The time has come when we
start to think about getting the perfect gift for those musical people in our
lives who concentrate their efforts on trying to conjure up creative lyrics and
unforgettable melodies.
I am particularly talking about the singer/songwriters; those familial stars in our loves who
are all about progress to elevate their craft and touch us emotionally with the
amazing riffs found in the music that they create. And so, being a singer/songwriter, I compiled a list of things that might ruffle the feathers of those talented skylarks that you know and love.
Gift Ideas for Singer/Songwriters
Here are 12 gift ideas that
might add some inspiration into those talented individuals in your life.
1. 2018 Standard Diary
Important dates are something that
all people want to keep. For the singer/songwriter, it is important to write
down dates for musical engagements as a way to make sure that you never double
book by accident. Keeping a record of what is to come keeps your mind ready for
what is important and this particular Standard Diary for 2018 is one I love.
I have been using it for years and every year
I love it more for several reasons. It
has one lined page for each day of the year. Can't go wrong with a book that features lined pages for someone who enjoys writing. Not only can you write down
engagements for particular dates but you have a lot of space to include a
series of things that you might want to include (ex. dress code, musicians who will join you, address, fee).
The front of the book has a small
address book where you can include numbers of the important people, perhaps
clients for whom you want to keep the number saved. And in the last few pages of
this book, there is an area where you can keep a calculation of what you earned
and spent which is always a good way to keep a record of your musical earnings and expenses for the year (ex. Gas, tolls, business meetings, supplies and equipment). Great book to have!
2. Songwriter’s Market 40th Edition: Where & How to Market Your Songs
There is a new Songwriter’s Market
Book every year that is published and each year, there is updated information
on places you can send your music, people who might be interested in listening to what you have got to offer, advice to spark more creativity and edge, publication information and websites
that might be helpful to a songwriter’s career. This book is a great tool for
any singer/songwriter in your life. The 2018 edition is the 40th edition of this book.
3. Microphone Music Stand Tablet/Smartphone Holder Mount
There is no doubt about it; it
is the computer age and sadly enough, we have our phones in our hands at least
75% of the day. So, when at a gig, nobody wants to see a phone in a musician’s hand; especially if it might be to read lyrics.
The thing to consider though is where to put it?
Here is an idea. Put your phone on the
microphone stand right in front of you. There is a mount for that which you can add to your
microphone stand to keep it safe and secure while you are wooing your crowd.
Even better, if you need to carry your lyrics or music chart and want to save yourself
the trouble of having to print them out on paper, add these documents to your Ipad or tablet, and
mount that onto your mic stand and read off the tablet from there. It is an
easy fix to keeping your hands free and also securing your devices during live
performances.
4. SanDisk 16GB 2.0 Flash Disk
We all have our music and
maybe we also have show tracks that we can perform to if the day comes when
your gig is a solo one without a band. Sadly not many computers have CD players
anymore but you can never go wrong with a flash disk.
Add your background music
to this 16GB junk drive and have it ready to give to the DJ or to the facilitator of
the event so that when it is your turn to perform, you can have it on hand and ready
for usage.
5. Bose L1 Compact With Carry Case and Speaker Bag
I feel like this story is important to share in order to make relevant the importance of this product to a performing singer/songwriter.
I was supposed to do this
gig on day and a musical individual I know told me that as long as I do gigs at
this particular venue, I could use his sound system and he would keep it there.
The day of the gig came and for some reason, every half hour, the musicians
kept calling me and asking me if they wanted me to bring their sound system and
I would say no because there was one at the venue. After about being called ten
times with the same question, I contacted the musical individual who initially told
me that I could use his sound system anytime and he told me that he took it out
and further argued that it was his and he could do whatever he wanted with it.
Thank God I had great musicians working with me who I consider friends. Never a
bad idea to have your own though. And so, I invested in one and it was one of
the best moves I have ever made because you never know if the venue will have
one available to you.
This particular one I love because
I am a female and I can carry this which is not so heavy on the train and have
the ability to maneuver it without much effort. It works very well and
amplifies my voice just the way that it should. I have used it for indoor gigs.
I have used it for outdoor gigs and it provided sound just the way that it
should. I love my Bose system and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a
great amplification system.
6. Pyle 3 Piece Professional Dynamic Microphone Kit with Carrying Case
As a singer/songwriter, sure a
club should have everything there for you to use and perhaps you should just be
able to walk in and blow away but, who has handled the microphone that is being provided?
How often do they
clean these mics that everybody and their mamas have sneezed into, spit into while singing and
coughed into before it is your turn to use it? I say that because as singers,
we get colds, laryngitis and other throat infections and may still sing while
ailing. At times, nothing will keep us
from trying to do what we love and if are able, will do it even with just 10%
of our strength available to us. But, who said that there is a mic available for
you to use at all?
This set comes with three
mics, the cables for the mics, the mic clips and a carrying case. You could never go wrong
with at least having your own mic on deck just in case.
7. Cardinal
Economy Round Ring View Binders, 4 Per Pack
For the singer/songwriter who
also composes and has the ability to write out chords, this set of binders is
perfect to provide to the musicians to easily read and play along with the
scores that you add inside.
Makes it easy to simply add
the charts in the order of the set and to neatly turn the pages inside of the
binders for the next song at hand.
8. Vocal
Yoga: The Joy of Breathing, Singing and Sounding
Maynard Ferguson once said
that he gained the ability to hit all those high notes that he uses by doing yoga.
Yoga is a great way to stretch out your muscles and I think it would be no
different when it applies to the vocal chords.
What I like about yoga is that it also engages
creativity and creates a nice flow of ideas to open up. Yoga teaches you how to
breathe better and it is tremendous in helping to keep the wind instrument of
the human voice healthy. Vocal Yoga provides awesome exercises in this book.
9. Music
Theory for Singers
I have to say that music
theory is a good way to increase the flow of creativity because it gives you
an extra set of sounds and ideas to work with. Scales, intervals and minors all
added to what we are able to hear, even with the process of writing a song.
Knowing different chords can open up a songwriter’s ears to so many possibilities.
Music Theory for Singers is a
great way to inspire those creative people in your life who continually try to
seek ideas to spark their creativity and then prostitute their talent. This is a
great gift to actively play the part of sparking new ideas into the life of the
singer/songwriter you know and love.
10. Microphone Pendant Necklace
You can never go wrong with jewelry
and I do not know about any other musician, but for me, anything that has music
symbols on it, sparks my interest. And so, this necklace is something I would
love.
It has a microphone, is .925
sterling and is an 18-inch necklace. Very stylish and cute for any musician who I think would actually love this gift.
11. Lyrics Notebook
I love notebooks and am still
someone who favors writing in a book then just on a page on a word document. I
carry books around and am constantly scribbling down something that has
inspired me that I use in a song, story, blog, poem or something else. And so, I am
always looking for the prettiest notebook out there that can make me smile.
The lyric notebook makes me
smile because it is musical. It is made particularly for a music lover,
musician or songwriter. It has 104 pages and is a great journal to have to
write down new song ideas that you may have. Great gift for any songwriter.
12. Songwriter Big Cup of Awesome
I am always with a big cup of
coffee, tea or water and you can find me up at all times of the night trying to
apply the song ideas that I wrote to music. So what better idea than a cup that
says it all. Yes I am a big cup of wonderful with a dash of personality and
yes, I would love this cup.
Perfect for me or for any
musician who loves things that are musical. The message is unique and lovable
and shows support for what the singer/songwriter in your life presently loves to do and does.
It’s
the Most Wonderful Time of The Year
When it comes to getting gifts
for my loved ones, I always look for ways to add a bit of joy to their
lives and to get something that is unique and that they will love. Usually, I
am done my Christmas shopping by now but I can admit that I did not even step outside
to go to any store on Black Friday.
But now with just a few weeks until the
first day of Christmas arrives, I am left at liberty to truly think about what
will make the people in my life smile. Hopefully these musical ideas might be something
you will consider and perhaps will spark inspiration in the singer/songwriter
in your life.
Disclosure
I am a consumer and a singer
and songwriter who has had experience using many of these items and who thinks
that these items would make great gifts. This is not a sponsored post. I have not
been hired to write about any of the products mentioned for pay. These are my
personal views on products that may interest another singer/writer. I however, am an Amazon affiliate and if you should choose to purchase any of these items by
clicking on the links provided, I will recieve compensation..
by Carol Tice, Linda Formichelli and Chris Marlow which is to tell a story in just 75 words. 
