u/Stunning-Spirit9370

edit: I got it to work, sorta, at the very least I can do it on my phone! Truly don’t understand why it won’t work on my Mac… thank you to those who gave non-condescending advice :)

I know MEGA doesn’t support playing VOB files, I just have them stored there strictly for easy trading purposes (my collection of VOBs has grown quite large now). However, I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to get these files downloaded off MEGA and onto my local software and be downloaded in a way that it remains compatible with my VLC.

Someone please just DM me and explain to me, step by step, like I’m a toddler, how to properly download my VOB folders so I can play them.

*I am a Mac user- the local software I am referring to is my Files app on my Macbook, and the VLC software I use is the app called VLC… just for context lol*

I’ve heard a rumor that someone affiliated with Royal Shakespeare Company released an —unofficial— official Pro-shot of The Magician’s Elephant to YouTube. Though, a few hours later it was reported that the op then made it undefined to those who already had access to the link. Then, several hours after that, it was reported to have been made private entirely. Does anyone have information on maybe why this happened? Or even just an idea? It’s clear that a proshot exists and as far as I know, no other bootleg exists of it so why are they holding it hostage?

The book was one of my absolute favorites as a kid, I just want to watch a stage production of it😭 (yes I have the audio and while I do listen to it regularly, my imagination only goes so far… I need to actually see it hahaha)

Also, what are the rules when it comes to proshots being posted to YouTube like that? Are they downloadable and then tradable or is that something that still remains off limits and seen as an illegitimate boot?

Looking for anyone to help explain a couple of things for me!

1.) Please explain NFTs & Do Not Gifts to me like I’m a toddler….
- yes, I know they mean not for trade and not to be just handed out. So I guess my questions are: Can you trade for a file that is listed as do not gift? Like, what’s the biggest difference between the two? Also, how do we keep track of these specific not for trade dates, and how can I catch if a new file goes NFT or comes off NFT? The last thing I want to do is mistakenly trade or gift a file that is supposed to be NFT or Do Not Gift😖

2.) Is more of a recommendation:
What kind of tips and tricks do you guys have when it comes to creating your collection/wants lists? I see the most popular might be spreadsheet but I’ve never used spreads a day in my life so I have no clue what I’m doing. Also, how do you guys recommend storing files?

Please, any tips and tricks are welcome- I’m incredibly anxious to mess something up while I’m still learning how everything works so the more advice I get, the better!

Thank you all in advance! ☺️🖤

Hello everyone!✨

I have just recently discovered the world that is Musical Theater Bootlegs. I have been in awe of musicals since I performed in my very first one — The Music Man — my freshman year of high school (2017). I’ve never really dove deep into research on the best ways to watch musicals other than ones that have released pro-shots on streaming services, like The Sound of Music, The Newsies, Hamilton, and a few others. Until now. Just a few weeks ago I came across what I now know to be considered a leaked, and very much illegal, bootleg of Hadestown starring Jack Wolfe, thus the rabbit hole of learning about the bootleg gifting and trading system.

I have spent countless hours over the course of the past week reading Reddit threads about the rules and the importance of following these rules for proper gifting and trading when it comes to musical bootlegs. Since then, I have found encora — which I know is an invite only site — and have read their info page beginning to end and end to beginning more times than I can remember.

I know this hobby is incredibly important to so many people and I desperately wish to learn more about it and hopefully become a part of it someday soon. So, I am looking for anyone who is willing to gift me my first “official” bootleg. Since I cannot claim to be a musical connoisseur, merely just a beginner watcher, I do not have a certain request for any one musical to be gifted. I will take absolutely anything anyone is willing to give — I do not wish to overstep any boundaries and add to the growing threat of bootleg leaks.

Also, I will gladly accept any tips and tricks our more experienced and advanced collectors may have learned over the years, of course only if willing and able. I appreciate anyone who has taken the time to read this to the end😌

Some of my favorite musicals I’ve come across so far include:
• Hamilton
• Hadestown (I now own multiple recordings pressed on official vinyl releases)
• The Phantom of the Opera
• The Music Man (as a former Zaneeta Shinn☺️)
• The Newsies
• Next to Normal (thanking the gods above for Jack Wolfe’s pro shot on prime video, also blaming this on the Jack Wolfe effect)
• Cats (this one might stem from the Official Movie starring Taylor Swift — I know, controversial🫢)
• Rent (the very first musical I was ever shown by my mom)
• Epic: the concept album (not so patiently waiting for the animated film and the Ilium album)

Thank you again for your time, I can’t wait to learn more about this hobby and the art of Musical Theatre🎭🎬🌹✨🖤