7 (Not So) Subtle Ways to Drop Holiday Gift Hints

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, 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 seven ways to ensure that you receive musical gifts that you’ll appreciate this holiday season.

1. Create and Share a Wish List

Remember when you wrote letters to Santa when you were a kid? Sweetwater’s Wish List is basically the same thing, but with a modern, digital twist. It’s a breeze to use. Just comb through Sweetwater.com, find items you like, and then click the “Add to list” link on the product page. After you’ve assembled your list, share it via email or social media. You can even print it out and leave it in some obvious place, if you want to be very transparent.

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 leave the product page on Sweetwater.com open on their smartphone or laptop. Spread out a ProGear on the coffee table displaying your preferred gift. Circling the item with a bright red permanent marker is optional and definitely not too subtle. Sticky notes work, too. If all else fails, 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 Sales Engineer is a grade-A option) about what gear you’re coveting, and have them relay said information to your loved ones. It’s a lot like 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 truly musically illiterate, then a Sweetwater Gift Card is a great way to ensure that you get exactly what you want. They’re also great if you’re hankering for a high-ticket item that you’re sure nobody will actually buy you, such as a Neve console, a Telefunken microphone, or a Moog modular synth. Sweetwater offers both convenient e-Gifts 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 gifter chooses the dollar amount, and the giftee gets exactly what they want.

5. Sign Friends and Family Up for ProGear

Want to ensure that your friends and family stay in the loop about the latest and greatest in gear? Then sign them up for ProGear! It’s jam-packed with over 600 pages of photos and deep product info. It’s also a great conversation starter. When they call you to ask why you signed them up for ProGear, you can say something like, “Did you check out that Strat on page 16? I’d give my right arm for one of those!” Hint dropped — it’s that easy!

6. Download the Sweetwater App onto Their Phone

Don’t think your loved ones will carry a ProGear around with them? Then download the Sweetwater app onto their 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 read up-to-the-moment industry news.

Sweetwater Mobile App

7. 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 GT11 Stratocaster or an A&F shell pack, just say so! After all, open and honest communication is the key to any successful relationship!

If you’re worried that your friends and family will get you useless (albeit well-intentioned) musical gifts this holiday season, 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 that they get you a gift that you’ll appreciate forever! And if you’re not sure exactly which guitar or mic you want, call your Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700, and they will help you narrow it down.

Sweetwater Gift CardsChoosing the perfect gift has never been easier than instant digital delivery and the freedom to choose from over 63,000 music products. A Sweetwater e-Gift is the fastest way to get the giving going. You choose the dollar amount, and the music maker in your life — or maybe even you — gets exactly what they want. The perfect gift is just a few clicks away!
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