This post is to announce the next North American Loop, but not to take "applicants". This gives the oppurtunity for all those that are interested in joining the Loop, advanced notice. Also, it should give people a chance to consider, before joining the Loop, whether they are prepared to make the commitment of not just creating a CD, but posting promptly and reviewing others' CDs.

A thread will be opened in two weeks time on the evening (GMT) of Tuesday 21st August. Members can then post their interest to join the Loop. There will be 8 places and all will be allocated on a first-come-first served basis.

For those not famliar with the Tape Loop, it works something like this.

A list of the 8 participants will be created - it is up to each participant to PM their address details to the member before them on the list.

On creation of the Loop you will have a period of time to create a compilation CD, with artwork if you wish (approx 2 weeks). There are no limits to the number of tracks on the CD, but please keep it to one CD only.

Your CD should be posted to the member that follows you on the list. A date of posting will be given

You should forward the other member's CDs you recieve every two weeks after that (dates will be given).

The two weeks between posting should give you enough time to listen to the CDs you recieve, as well as review them in an allocated thread.

The Loop ends when all CDs have been reviewed by all participating members.

Remember - please do no not join the Loop unless you are prepared to listen, review and post other members CDs within the allotted times.

Good luck.

We are now taking "applicants" for the next North American Loop. If you wish to participate post your interest here.

8 spaces available, but a possibility of a second Loop in tandem if interest exceeds expectation.

Before considering joining the Loop please read the 1st post in this thread.

I'm in.

me too!

I'll be living in Canada next year (flying in at the start of December), does that make me eligible? I guess it depends how much postage costs between the US and Canada, and when the loop will be starting. Any cries of outrage/welcoming pleas/ambivalent thoughts?

i will welcome you with open arms (i am in canada too)... but i don't know how the mods/punkass will feel about you joining the loop since you do not actually live here yet.

It's still Tape Swap USA at the moment.

Alrighty, cheers anyway! I'll check back when I'm actually in the vicinity, and if you're still looking for loopers I'll submit my application again.

I'm now in North America. Vernon, British Columbia. This evidently counts me out of Tape Swap USA. Are there any plans for a Tape Swap Canada?

Well, considering the fact that both me and Julie took part in the last loop, even though both of us at the time were living in Canada, and I still live in Canada, I don't think you are counted out. I actually think that we should just start the loop right now since we are not going to be able to get the 8 that the mods have decided we need.

We should do a half & half with the UK. I'd be willing to ship there. We'd only need someone there willing to ship here.

Well, we have enough members in North America to do a loop, it's just that no one has shown any interest. We really should just do it ourselves.

There seems to be 3 (or 4) that have shown an interest. Would you like to start a Loop with a reviews thread?

Sounds good to me!

Me too!

Ok. So how do we want to do this? What should the order be? I send to Heff, Heff sends to rabbit57i, and she sends to me? How long do we want before the first send out, and how much time do we want between send outs?

That sounds good to me. I'll need a bit of time to get organized so at least a week before we get started would be good for me.

Well alright then. I guess we just await Heff's approval. Although I was thinking the first send out could be in a month and then each consectutive send out could be a month from the previous send out.

That sounds perfect.

Sorry, I haven't been paying attention. How's this?

February 12th
Jem sends her tape to moi.
Moi sends moi's tape to Rabbit.
Rabbit sends her tape to Jem.

March 12th
I forward Jem's tape to Rabbit.
Rabbit forwards my tape to Jem.
Jem forwards Rabbit's tape to me.

Perfect. Let's PM our addresses to the people that need to send to us.

My apologies - I sent my cd a tad late (Feb 18). And I had trouble accessing all my music, so I've jumbled together a few gems in the hope it will pass for a mix tape proper. But, that depends on your definition of 'mix tape' - if it's 'a collection of songs by different artists', then we are, as they say, in business.

Don't worry, same story here. I've never really made a mix tape CD, so there a few abrupt changes between songs that I don't have the technology to fix.

And I'm the naughtiest of all. I'd been quite busy with start of a new job that the first chance I'll have to send the cd will have to be monday. Sorry for holding up the loop.

btw, I've gotton yours Heff.

Sweet! Feel free to review in the appropriate thread, or wait until the loop is complete so we can all review together.

I just got rabbit's disc yesturday. Have you recieved mine yet Heff?

You just got it? I mailed it weeks ago.

My mum said it was delivered yesturday...

I could be in some trouble here - I've moved out of the place I was in, but have been checking back for my mail. The lady at the desk told me that someone has collected all the mail for the place where I'm now staying. She didn't know who it was. I don't know who it was. I'm in hot, administratory pursuit. I'll keep you posted ('no pun intended' - thankyou, The Hives).

I'll send you another copy just PM me your new address.

No need - I got your tape! Sorry about the delay - the end of the ski season means I'm moving again and busy organising stuff. If you've already sent Michele's cd, I should get it. If not, wait until I have an address in Toronto - next week. I'll be posting a review of your cd real soon - next day or two.

Soooo... Are we still looping?

I am weak link, aren't I?

Jem can you PM your last name, I don't think I had it last time and that maybe why it took so long to get to you.

You may be a weak link, but I'm a broken link. I moved out of North America, and now I'm back in Australia

Michele - I'm happy to post on Jem's tape to you.

Jem - if you don't want to pay for postage to me, I won't hold it against you.

I'll post to you Heff. I send packages to my aunt all the time, it's not that expensive.