Sometimes bootlegs are NFT. And that's okay.
What does NFT mean?
NFT stands for Not For Trade. NFT refers to a bootleg which is not for trade or other distribution. This includes uploading to YouTube or TikTok, or gifting the links to friends. If you are in possession of the item, you also should not post any screenshots or clips of it, and generally shouldn't talk about it publicly or spread knowledge of its existence.
Sometimes things can be NFT forever, sometimes things are only NFT until a certain date (called an NFT date), and sometimes things are not tradable through anyone but the person who recorded them. This is usually marked as NFT except through master.
This definition of NFT is in no way related to the economic NFTs, and enforcing NFT dates does not mean the user is inherently pro-economic NFTs.
Why are NFT dates important?
Typically a master (the person who records a bootleg) sets an NFT date a few weeks or months after the date they announce they took the video. This is to protect their safety. If someone recorded Beetlejuice on March 10th and then released their video for trade on March 11th, the Beetlejuice team could easily find out about the recording and boost security on recording the show, which means no more Beetlejuice bootlegs, and the person who recorded it could very easily get caught.
Sometimes, masters sell their videos during the NFT period. These sales are usually around $10 USD, so they don't break the budget. It helps to make back the money spent on equipment and the price of the show ticket. It is not intended to be greedy or capitalistic, only to gain back the money lost from recording. You may not agree with this, but it is not an excuse to leak these videos before NFT.
Bootlegs aren't infinite, and they're filmed by human beings. As of writing this, there are two Broadway video masters left: one of which is on a hiatus from releases due to leaks, and the other has recently come back after having left the community because of leaks and is now very strict when they do release things. Almost all of the Broadway video masters who have filmed from 2005-2018 have since left the community because of leaks. This is not an empty threat: it is history. It can be very discouraging to have things leaked, on top of the potential dangers of it. If you leak a video, masters can very easily get fed up and leave.
When you leak a video, or watch a leaked video on YouTube or TikTok, you are potentially harming a master. Leaking shows you don't respect masters as people or care for their safety. Masters can always just pack up and leave the community, so if you want videos of your favorite actors and shows, you must promise to protect the people that provide it for you. Remember, this stuff is illegal, so it's important that they're kept on the DL.
You can read more on the Sassy Guide.
What items are NFT?
This information was all taken from Encora, a user-updated database of theatrical performances with a side function of trading. The NFT list and all other trading features are hidden for users without an account. All dates added to this list are from Encora, and the fully up-to-date list with complete item information will be there.
This list was last updated: December 11, 2020.
February 28, 2021
| Show | Production | Date | Master | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair | Norwich | October, 2020 | hitmewithyourbethshot | Video |
| Songs for a New World | London Palladium | October, 2020 (2) | hitmewithyourbethshot | Video |
| The Last Five Years | Southwark Playhouse | October, 2020 (2) | hitmewithyourbethshot | Video |
April 20, 2021
| Show | Production | Date | Master | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hadestown | Broadway | February, 2020 | theaterfan64 | Video |
October 3, 2021
| Show | Production | Date | Master | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Girls | Broadway | 2019 | wordsfail | Video |
November 11, 2021
| Show | Production | Date | Master | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver! | Copenhagen, Denmark | November, 2020 | starprincess | Video |
December 10, 2021
| Show | Production | Date | Master | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Girls | Broadway | February 9, 2020 | wordsfail | Video |
December 21, 2021
| Show | Production | Date | Master | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiddler on the Roof | Dutch Tour | March 28, 2018 | whisperingtrade | Audio |
December 31, 2021
| Show | Production | Date | Master | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fun Home | Amsterdam | August 2, 2019 | whisperingtrades | Audio |
| Fun Home | Amsterdam | August 13, 2019 | whisperingtrades | Audio |
December 31, 2023
| Show | Production | Date | Master | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Color Purple | Brazil | September, 2019 (2) | soundboard | Audio |