Today is my 30th birthday. I know a lot of people talk about how getting older is a drag, and how turning 30 is the end of something. For my part, I’m actually really excited for my 30s. I have devoted most of my 20s to building a scaffolding for future success (in my job, in my musical career, in my personal relationships) – my 30s are when I am planning on building some real things on top of that scaffolding. There’s a lot of really great things happening in my life as I head into 30, and I am optimistic about things getting even better.
If you were inclined to do something nice/special for me on this birthiest of days, here’s a list of cheap/free things you can do that would make me very happy.
1: Read My Blog
You’re already doing this one right now, so thanks! But I’ve written a bunch of other things that I think deserve to be read. If you go to the blog’s front page, there is a pulldown menu on the top left that allows you to access 4 years of archived posts. Something there may interest you.
2: Become a Facebook Fan
I have been sinking a non-trivial amount of my time and effort into my music projects, all of which is documented on my Facebook page. There are free mp3s, Youtube videos, pictures, and a whole bunch of other stuff that is available for free. I do it all with the hopes that people will listen and enjoy, so I hope that you will listen and enjoy.
I do have a personal Facebook account, but I don’t add people I haven’t met in person (or unless I’ve had long-standing online interactions with them, in some rare cases).
3: Become a Patreon Sponsor
If you have a couple of extra bucks kicking around, please consider sponsoring me on Patreon.com. I write, record, and release original tunes roughly once every couple of months. Patreon sponsors pledge a small amount of money (the lowest level is $1) for each song I release, and get rewards for doing so on a sliding scale. The money I make on Patreon goes toward purchasing studio time to make professional-quality recordings of my music. If you’ve got at least 30-50 cents a month, consider throwing some of that my way!
4: Subscribe on Other Social Media
I am a surprisingly easy person to find online:
– I have Twitter
– I have Instagram
– I have SoundCloud
– I have YouTube
I try to keep all of my channels free of boring/spam content (although no promises about my Twitter feed), so if you’re interested in what’s going on in my life, that’s a really good way to accomplish that.
5: Listen to my latest song
I released a new recording last week. Listen to it.
6: Come see a show
If you live in the Vancouver area, I am playing two shows this week. On Thursday I will be playing with my new band The Sheets at the Blarney Stone in Gastown. This is what The Sheets sound like. I’m not in that video, but imagine more fiddle (and less creepy murder-light), and you’ll be somewhere in the ballpark. There is no cover on Thursdays.
On Friday I am playing a solo show at Clough Club, also in Gastown. This is what my solo set sounds like. Clough also has no cover. My set is a mix of original tunes and covers, and people usually seem to enjoy it. If you’re around, and you like live music, you can come see some.
7: Come to my party
I’ll be at Clough Club on Saturday as well, for the formal celebration. The more the merrier, although if you’re meeting me in person for the first time, you won’t be seeing me at my best (although I will be at my most distracted). There will also be fantastic live music courtesy of Alex Maher. This is what Alex Maher sounds like.
That’s the list. I would be very happy if you did any of these things, as they are all quite meaningful to me. For my part, you can expect more writing, more music, and more new endeavours. I’m looking forward, as always, to sharing that process with you.
Thank you!
Crommunist 
Hey Ian! Happy 30th birthday! I remember spending 19 together. Good times. Although I can’t spend another milestone with you, I enjoy reading your blogs, hearing your new music and, I was fortunate enough to see a show! Looking forward to another decade of awesomeness!
Thanks, Rachel!