Let’s face it — it’s hard to buy gifts for musicians if you’re not a musician. But you want your loved ones to get you something that you’ll actually use. If you’re telepathic, then the solution is simple. But for the rest of us, we need to be creative. Otherwise, guitarists get drumsticks, drummers get ukuleles, and DJs get guitar amps. We don’t want that! Here are six ways to ensure that you receive musical gifts that you’ll appreciate this holiday season.
1. Create & Share a Wish List
Remember when you wrote letters to Santa when you were a kid? A Sweetwater Wish List is the same thing but with a modern, digital twist. Our Wish List is a breeze to use. Once you create or sign into your Sweetwater account, search through Sweetwater.com to find items you like. Then, click the “Add to Wish List” button on the item’s product page. Once you’ve assembled your list, share it via email or social media. You can even print it out and leave it in an obvious place if you really want to make sure they get the hint.
2. Provide Subtle Visual Cues
If your friends and family are intuitive folks, then dropping subtle visual cues may be all you need to do. For example, you can “accidentally text them” a link to a Sweetwater product page. Sticky notes work, too. If all else fails, then print out a large picture of your desired item and attach it to the refrigerator. After all, everybody looks in the fridge on a regular basis.
3. Enlist Another Musician
If the thought of asking for a gift makes you uncomfortable, then it’s time to call in reinforcements. Tell one of your musician buddies (your Sweetwater Sales Engineer is a good option for this, too) about what gear you’re yearning for, and have them relay said information to your loved ones. It’s similar to how you had your friends talk to your crush in middle school. It may be childish, but it’s an effective tactic.
4. Request Gift Cards
If your loved ones are musically illiterate, then a Sweetwater Gift Card is a great way to ensure that you get exactly what you want. Gift cards are also ideal if you’re hankering for a high-ticket item that you’re sure nobody can afford to buy you, such as a Rupert Neve Designs console, a Neumann U 87 Ai microphone, or a Moog Model 10 modular synth. Sweetwater offers both convenient e-Gift Cards and traditional plastic Gift Cards, and the gift giver can add a custom message for a personal touch. Gift Cards are a win for everybody — the giver chooses the dollar amount, and the giftee can get exactly what they want.
5. Download the Sweetwater App onto Their Phone
Download the Sweetwater app onto your loved ones’ smartphones. Since they (like most people these days) take their phones with them everywhere, they’ll always have instant access to Sweetwater’s entire inventory — a handy reference for when you tell them about that brand-new piece of gear you’ve been admiring. Available for iOS and Android, the Sweetwater app enables you to browse thousands of products, contact 24/7 tech support, and watch videos or read inSync articles to find out about the newest gear on the market.
6. Just Tell Them
Subtlety doesn’t always get the job done, and dropping hints will only get you so far. If there’s something you really want, be it a Fender Custom Shop GT11 or an A&F Drum company shell pack, then just say so! After all, open and honest communication is the key to any successful relationship!
Get the Gear You Want . . . from Sweetwater!
If you’re worried that your friends and family will get you useless (albeit well-intentioned) musical gifts this holiday season, then try one of our suggestions. After all, you don’t want to receive a gift that will be stashed in your closet and then discarded. Ensure they get you a gift that you’ll appreciate forever! And if you’re not sure exactly which guitar or mic you want, then call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700, and they will help you narrow it down.