Everyone loves presents. Whether it’s birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, or any other special occasion, we all like to be treated every once in a while.
And when it comes to gifts and presents for singers (and all musicians, for that matter), there’s certainly no shortage of ideas out there.
From recording equipment and lyric books to vocal remedies and everything in between, there are many different gift avenues to explore, with a wide range of options that singers will use and appreciate daily.
In this blog, we’ve picked out 7 perfect gifts for singers to give you food for thought for treating the musician in your life.
Microphone
Perhaps the most obvious of gifts for a singer, but with good reason, as you can never go wrong with a good microphone.
Singers always need microphones, whether performing to a live crowd or rehearsing at home. Small venues might not provide equipment like microphones, so having your own gear as a singer is essential, especially when you’re first starting out.
Microphones can vary in price depending on the spec and manufacturer. Sure—you can pay several hundred and even thousands of pounds for some of the highest-tech mics, but it’s not all about price.
Singers don’t necessarily have to pay top dollar to optimise their performance, and there are some brilliant budget-friendly microphones out there to choose from. Your singing friend will definitely appreciate it!
Vocal Dampener
Vocal dampeners (also sometimes referred to as voice silencers) are a super-cool and handy piece of equipment for singers.
If you’ve never heard of them, they’re essentially portable devices that can be worn or held on the face to reduce the volume of your voice.
Vocal dampeners are ideal for singers practising or warming up for a performance in an otherwise quiet space. For example, if people are working or sleeping and you don’t want to disturb them.
Check out this one from Beltbox, which can reduce the volume of a singer’s voice by up to 30 decibels while still allowing them to hear their intonation. Ideal for those early morning or late night practice sessions!
Foldable Music Stand
All musicians, including singers, commonly use music stands, and you’ll often see them in the orchestra hall.
They can be used both during practice and when performing live, and they’re very handy when it comes to learning new lyrics and songs you might not yet be familiar with.
Ask any singer, and they’ll agree—having lyrics or even a setlist readily available in front of you, hands-free, can be a Godsend.
Music stands aren’t usually expensive, either, so you can bag a practical and thoughtful gift for a bargain.
Headphones
Headphones have various uses, so they are a worthy consideration when searching for gifts for singers.
Singers often wear in-ear monitors (IEMs) when performing. These are a type of headphone that help singers to hear themselves clearly and reduce distractions, such as crowd noise or echoing.
Headphones are often essential when recording music, too. But aside from all that, it’s always good to have a decent pair of headphones to hand when you just fancy listening to your favourite tunes!
As with microphones, some headphones can be pretty expensive, but you needn’t break the bank, as many budget headphones are still more than good enough.
Throat Coat Tea
This might not be something you’d previously considered buying as a gift for a singer, but we guarantee the singer in your life will thank you for it if you do.
Throat Coat Tea is a herbal remedy often used to treat sore throats. It contains slippery elm and liquorice root, which are known to help soothe the throat, which can be super-beneficial for singers.
Singers should also stay hydrated, as this is crucial for performance and general vocal health. Herbal teas like Throat Coat can contribute to hydration, and you can drink up to 6 cups a day to care for your voice.
Herbal teas are often renowned for their anti-inflammatory properties, too, which can be good for the vocal cords, especially after a performance.
But don’t just take our word for it. Speaking to New York Magazine, even John Legend listed Throat Coat Tea as one of the 8 items he can’t live without!
“Throat Coat keeps my vocals fresh. I’ll drink it multiple times a day if I have a show that day,” he said. Check out the full article here.
You can pick up a box of 16 tea bags for as little as £6* from Traditional Medicinals.
*Prices may vary.
Thermal flask
Again, a thermal flask may not have been top of your gifts for singers list, but given that we’ve just been talking about hot tea, it might make sense to get something to transport it around in!
Thermal flasks can be a lifesaver for touring musicians who spend a lot of time on the road, travelling between venues and shows—not to mention those cold morning or evening trips to the rehearsal studio.
A good quality flask can keep drinks hot for several hours at a time, so you can ensure your singing pal never has to go without their favourite hot beverage—whether it’s a Throat Coat Tea or other vocal remedy.
Many online retailers also offer personalisation features, so why not make your friend’s flask extra special by getting it personalised with their name or favourite lyrics?
Songbook
Singers are constantly coming up with new lyrics and ideas for songs. While a smartphone notes app may do the job for some, others still prefer the old-school feel of pen and paper for their wordsmithing and idea dumping.
A songbook (or just a notebook for songwriting) is arguably one of the best gifts for singers because they’re a complete blank canvas to begin with. So, whatever type of singer your friend is and whatever genre of music they sing, they’re bound to be able to put a songbook to good use.
Plus, if your friend ever makes it big time, the songbook you bought them as a gift might one day be worth a lot of money!
Did you know?
A handwritten draft of Bob Dylan’s song Like A Rolling Stone sold for over $2m back in 2014!
Specialist singer insurance through Insure4Music
Becoming a singer isn’t easy, and there are often many bumps and setbacks along the journey. So, if you have a friend that’s trying to make it, a bit of kindness can go a long way.
There are lots of different presents for singers out there for you to consider. But something your friend may want to consider for themselves is specialist insurance.
With Insure4Music, specialist singer insurance includes Equipment Cover to protect their gear if it gets lost, damaged, or stolen. It also includes Public Liability cover, which is often a legal requirement for performing live at venues.
Learn more about the different insurance options available for singers and musicians here, or get a quote today.
Please note the information provided on this page should not be taken as advice and has been written as a matter of opinion. For more on insurance cover and policy wording, see our homepage.