I'm kind of known for having wacky-ass parties on my birthday -- like my naked birthday when I turned 50, and my head-shaving nude beach party when I turned 40.
This year, everyone gets to keep their clothes on (if they want to).
This coming Sunday, June 21st, 2009, I turn 53 — and I’m having a party — a musical party — and I thought I'd put my invite out there, so that you can celebrate with me in spirit, if not in the flesh.
The text of my birthday invite is below.
This year, everyone gets to keep their clothes on (if they want to).
This coming Sunday, June 21st, 2009, I turn 53 — and I’m having a party — a musical party — and I thought I'd put my invite out there, so that you can celebrate with me in spirit, if not in the flesh.
The text of my birthday invite is below.
This year, when pondering what to “do” for my birthday, I was advised to do something I’d never done before — so here’s my plan:
I’ve been wanting to have more live music in my life. There was a time when live music (both playing and listening/dance to) was a huge part of my life, and I miss it.
I’m having a live music party on Sunday. A very intentional live music party — and I’m going to do what I can to help the attendees align with my intention, so that I can have the best chance of getting what I want out of it.
Here’s the roster for festivities:
11 am – Guidance Wander My Beloved will lead a “guidance wander” for anyone who wants to come along, from 11 - 11:30 AM. A Guided Wander is a walk where you let the Universe lead you on the path — you start without a destination and allow the signs and sygils take you from point to point on the way. It’s a ton of fun, and I think it will be a good start for a party where the whole idea is to be in the moment and let the music lead you. If you want to go on the guidance wander with us, please arrive no later than 11:00 am — cause we’ll be taking off then and God knows where we’ll be!
12 pm - 3 pm – Music Party The front two rooms of our house will be set up as a live music hall. There will be some spare instruments (we have several guitars, drums, a synthesizer, piano, tambourine, shakers, etc.) — but bring your own if you have them.
Here are the “rules” for the party:
- Don’t worry if you don’t have an instrument. There will be an area where there are instruments that are available for anyone to play — if you bring your personal instruments and don’t want to share them (which I completely understand), don’t place them in this area (which will be marked).
- Any instrument that is not in this area should be considered someone’s personal instrument — please don’t pick it up, play it, or even touch it without their specific permission.
- The front two rooms of our house will be dedicated to music. If you want to have a conversation with someone else at the party, please take this out to the yard or into the kitchen, rather than carrying it on in the hall while music is being made. In the music hall, incidental verbal interactions such as “an-a-one-and-a-two”, “let’s try that in the key of G”, and “Here’s a good one” will be welcome.
- Leave your ego and your judgments at the door (especially judgments you may have about yourself “I have a crappy voice”, or “I suck at playing guitar”). Refrain from “taking stage” and performing a personal concert — the point of this gathering is to have people make live music together — not for any individual to give a house concert. Expect that any song/music you start may end up being a group effort, and don’t get in a snit if someone else fires up a harmonica in the middle of your classical piece.
- Join in. Yeah, you may not think of yourself as a musician, but that could end on Solstice, 2009, you know? Sing, shake a tambourine or maraca, pound on the drum kit in the synth, dance, listen — stretch your edges.
- You may be recorded. I’m going to have the four track deck recording during the party, but it’ll be unobtrusive, and purely for my own enjoyment.
- I reserve the right to throw everybody out at 3 pm, although I may not — just depends on how I feel — it’s my birthday, after all.
- There will be tip jar out — proceeds will go to me — it’s my birthday, after all.
- There will be potluck snack table up — it’s potluck — if you’re going to snack, please also bring a snack to share.
- This party is strictly bring your own beverage. Alcohol is welcome, but mindless drunkeness is not (mindful and intentional intoxication to spur you on to heights of musical genius is welcome). If you want something to drink, bring it. I say this nearly every time I have a party, but people inevitably show up and ask: “Can I have one of your beers?” This year, I will be saying “No” in the nicest way, and pointing them down the street to Aldrich‘s, where there is a wide selection of excellent brewsky.
- Come absolutely, positively fragrance free – if you don’t, I’ll probably ask you to leave, even if that feels embarrassing and awkward for either or both of us.
- If you bring a friend that I don’t know, show them these rules before you bring them, and ask them to come only if they want to join in this intention:
- The intention of the party is to celebrate and kick-off my 54th year on the planet by making music together that is dedicated to creative, enjoyable connection — and having fun while doing it.
Them’s the rules — if I sound like an old cranky codger, well, I’ve discovered that if I get the boundaries out of the way first, I tend to weed out the people who don’t want to play nice — heh, heh.
Seriously, it’s been my experience that clearly defining the container usually gives us a better shot at cooking up something lovely inside it.
If you want to join in long-distance — play or sing or dance on June 21st — and think of me.
(Oh, and a note: In the past five years, I’ve usually been all “I want your presence, not your presents” — but fuck it — this year, I want some presents. If you want to get me something, drop a tip in the tip jar at the party — or leave something via the donation button up at the top of the page, or check out my Amazon wish-list.)
Happy Birthday to me!
i will raise a beer in your honor in the key of G on Sunday!
Sounds like a great party sorry I'll only be there in spirit!
I will sing and raise a beer in honor of you. I love your intentional invitation. Have a blast!
Happy Birthday!
I'll sing....the beer, not much of a fan. But singing, heck, why not?
Happy birthday, Portly. I'm glad you decided to incarnate & were born here on wild and wacky planet earth.
Sending you birthday wishes and titty-wrap hugs.
Cuz I am the queen of the titties, baby :-)
Happy Belated Birthday (or should that be Belated Happy Birthday, never been sure).
So how was the throwdown? Fun for all and all for fun?
Was it lovely? Was if fun? And most importantly, was it musical?