FYI: There IS a catch [or two], but we’ll get to that in a moment

So a couple years ago I read a post online that asked:

What if there was a place online where you could go and *easily* donate money to musicians? Think about it, you illegally BitTorrent the latest “Death Cab for Cutie” album. You think it kicks ass and decide that you would like to reward the band by giving them $5.
March 31st 2006 http://ask.metafilter.com/35482/BitTorrent-Donations-Viva-la-revolution

And I couldn’t shake it as an idea worth pursuing. It took a couple failed attempts but finally with the help of Ryan Cooper and Dmitri Dolguikh, it has been finished. Our take on such a site, IOUmusic.com, will be launching next month.

Before that happens we are looking to have a few fans and artists in to kick the tires of the very first version. You can literally only donate to artists thus far. We need to make sure that is working and solicit feedback on where to take it from here.

WHAT
The catch, as it is a donation site, is you will need to make a donation using a Visa, Mastercard or Amerrican Express credit card. The minimum donation for the service is $5. That $5 can be shared amongst as many bands as you wish.

As thanks for your time/help, we will match any donation amounts up to $25 per tester [we'll ask bands members to donate to more than just their own bands too please].

WHEN
When depends on testers availability. That said preferred times for us are Saturday (13th) afternoon and Monday evening [though Sunday, Wed and Thurs are possible dates as well].

WHERE
The other catch is that we want these initial tests to happen in person.
We will be hosting these at the Hub – 1673 Barrington St – 2nd Floor
We will also have food and drinks at the time(s) selected.

Any musicians partaking may also be asked to work with us in refining the verification and paying out processes as well but such involvement will not be required.

If interested:
EMAIL: betatesting@ioumusic.com
Include Name + phone number + Dates available + band or fan

We will follow up ASAP and let folks know if times offered will work.

Thanks,
Rob MacArthur

Additional Info:
IOUmusic was founded by Rob MacArthur, Ryan Cooper and Dmitri Dolguikh

Rob has operated the Rock Garden jam spaces in Halifax for the last 5 years, released albums by Myles Deck and the Fuzz, Dreamsploitation, Glory Glory Man United and Bloodsport under his label From Here To There Records and now manages the Fuzz.

Ryan is a programmer and a drummer. He’s been playing the drums off and on in various bands since getting a kit for Christmas in 1995 and he’s been coding since his family bought a Commodore 64 back in the late 80s. Ryan lives in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and now runs his own software company, Empirica Software Services. He’s also a partner in the Rock Garden jam space.

Comrade Dmitri originally hails from Moscow, Russia, although he’s been living and working in the Halifax area since the late 90s. He’s got 2 Master’s degrees and is generally a really smart guy. Unfortunately, he went to Moscow for a visit and left us to write his Bio, so you’ll have to take our word for it.