My experience with starting my record collection began as most things I’m interested in do. I saw it, I thought it was cool, and I wanted it. However, getting into vinyl isn’t as easy as, say, getting into lint collection. I could not, much to my chagrin, procure vinyl records from my bellybutton (believe me, I tried). But it’s also not the hardest thing to get into, like collecting Faberge eggs (FYI those also do not come from bellybuttons). So, to make things a bit easier for other millennial hipsters, here are a few things you need to know in order to start a record collection.
1. Get A Record Player
Honestly, this might not be something you need. I know people who collect records just to collect records, but that’s not the only reason why I wanted to start. When I got a record player, it encouraged me to also get records and play them! But also, why would you not want to hear the record you have? It’s like having a CD without a CD player. You do you, though.
2. Have Money
Record collecting isn’t necessarily an expensive venture, but unless you have a great-grandfather who leaves you his records and record player in his will, you will probably have to buy something somewhere at some point. I’m not saying you should spend your money on brand new, $30 records, or a swanky record player, but you’ll probably have to throw a few cents around to get some good sounding stuff.
3. Have Tim
Again, unless you have someone who gives you many records, or unless you’re rolling in it, record collecting will take some time. Brand new records can range from $15 to $30 depending on the artist, and even classic records can go higher. But the point of collecting is that it takes time and money, so just keep at it and before long you’ll have a stack of records as tall as you!
4. Be Sleuthy
You can often find good record deals by just looking in odd places. Go to yard sales, your local Goodwill, or even a record store. You might even take a peek online at places like Amazon or Ebay. But be careful. The older the record, or the cheaper it is, the worse off it may be. This isn’t an MP3 file we’re passing along here. It’s a physical object that is susceptible to damage, and that can affect overall quality. Sometimes you can even find free records! Like, on the side of a random road in Manhattan! This has only happened once, though, so it’s probably not a common occurrence.
5. Enjoy It!
Collecting something shouldn’t have to feel like a chore or a waste of money. If after the first few records you aren’t feeling it, then maybe it isn’t for you. Don’t feel like you have to continue doing something just because you started it! If you need to save money, then take a break. If it’s not fun, then don’t do it! The first record I had was 25 by Adele, and I probably listened to that 20+ times until I finally got another record, so take your time and do what works best for you. And at least you can say you tried it, right? And apparently records make good bowls, so you could always do that. Or Frisbees?
Record collecting isn’t for everyone, and some people just don’t like records, but if you want to start then, by all means, go for it! Maybe all it takes is a trip to your local record store, and put your hands on some records. I often think that touching things help me to decide if a really want them, like a guitar or a Tesla 3. I haven’t touched a Tesla 3, but I can almost assure you that if I touch one I will most definitely still want it. This logic can and should apply to records as well, especially since you're also going to need to find room in your apartment for all of the records you're about to collect.
