Newbie Corner

If you are new to this space, I strongly recommend taking some time to learn about the community, its rules (we don't have many), and culture. This is important for joining any online space, not just this hobby, however, due to the nature of this hobby, the community is more insular as a measure of protection (for you and for everyone else).

First, read the Sassy Guide if you have not already. I've provided here some additional information that I think is important in the modern trading scene, especially now that Encora is Invite-only.

There are many spaces across the internet where people engage in this hobby. There will be some trial and error in sorting out the best method for you. Hopefully this can help you get there! But ultimately, trading is a hobby, and like all hobbies, it requires effort and time (though this one does not require any money). If you are not willing to put effort and time into this hobby, you will not get much out of it.

1 Basics

Use an Alias: Anonymity is your friend and keeps you safe.

Do not use your IRL name, school/work email address, or any identifiable information when engaging in this hobby. Assume everyone you communicate with are using fake names as well. It is very easy to make a free Gmail with your trading alias and use that for all related communication.

Choosing an alias is NOT like choosing a username on a website. While duplicates/similarities happen, you should not name yourself a variant like FaceInTheMirr0r because FaceInTheMirror is 'taken'. This will likely be seen by others as an attempt at impersonation, which has been an issue in the past. Try to find something that is more unique to you. This does not apply to generic first names, though. Feel free to also call yourself Hester if you feel inclined. A lyric or reference to a show is the usual go-to but there is no rule saying it has to be musical theatre related.

Lastly, make a second discord account if you want to engage through discord. Do not attach it to your personal social media, steam/xbox account, or other linkable websites. This protects your privacy. Overall, the community is wonderful, but there will always be bad actors and people who will hold a grudge or cause chaos over something petty. The best think you can do is make it difficult for them to retaliate towards your IRL identity.

A degree of anonymity is important for engaging in most online spaces. Highly recommend outside of trading as well.

2 No Encora?

You're in luck! Website/email (even snail mail) trading existed loooong before a centralized database existed. There are many traders who never made the switch to Encora and still exist online today (and honestly they have great collections!). Additionally, there are a huge number of private traders who do not use Encora, but will contact you directly if they come across your website.

Regardless of if you have an account or not, I strongly recommend you make a website. Not only is this a back-up of your trading list if Encora ever shuts down, but it will allow for non-users to find you as well.

Discord is also popular, but it is also a vehicle for leaking. When joining servers, make sure you are in ones that are respecting NFT rules and that don't engage in unauthorized public sharing (most masters view sharing things in a discord server, even if it is 'private' to be publicly sharing. Links should only EVER be sent email-email or through Direct Messages). Traders and masters talk. If you are found to be in a server that was widespread leaking, even if you did not engage directly, you could be found guilty by omission.

If you do not want a public website, you can make a well-formatted Google Sheets document and email that directly to traders. The best examples of 'well-formatted' documents function like a website. Everything is listed neatly with complete information. Larger list will use sections and have hyperlinks, the same way websites have pages. Additionally, use the outline and tab features to make it easier for others to find what they are looking for. If people find your list hard to navigate or read, they will likely refuse to trade with you.

3 Mastering is not Required

You are NOT obligated nor encouraged to engage in recording shows. In fact, many experienced masters will discourage you from filming. Not only does this put you at direct risk of being caught and banned from the theatre, but by getting caught, you will make it more difficult for masters to film. If you live in an area that is heavily covered by active masters such as London or NYC, there is no need to start filming.

Audio recording is not required either. You do not need to live anywhere near theatre to engage in this hobby. As outlined in the Sassy Guide, there are ways of entering the trading space and building a collection from nothing (that's exactly how I started too). Everyone in this space is someone who loves theatre and is interested in theatre preservation and/or accessibility of art.

Happy Trading!