For many singers, the holiday season brings on pathos straight out of La bohème: eking out a gift list on the pay from a one-day gig, haggling with street vendors, wondering whether to pay rent or pay for a mid-winter meal with friends. The act of selling one’s earrings to purchase a muff for a friend may be long gone, but the idea remains very much the same. And in a time of cheer and good will, the whole process (and resulting credit card bills) can become a bit of a downer.
Make an early New Year’s resolution to stop worrying about December shopping. With some planning and practicality, you can knock everyone off your holiday list—and maybe even have enough left over to treat yourself to a little something as well.
Punch, Pash, Partner
You may know it by more risqué names than its Australian title (“Snog, Marry, Avoid” or “Marry, Bonk, Kill,” for starters) but the basic rules of “Punch, Pash, Partner” can be pretty universal in prioritizing when it comes to professional presents. Of the people you’ve worked for or with this year, who really need presents as opposed to mailed cards or a casual e-card? You probably don’t have to gift as many people as you may think.
“The era of obligatory holiday swag is definitely waning,” says new music publicist Steven Swartz. “I don’t often exchange gifts with my clients, but when I have it’s been a bottle of wine I like (under $25) or a copy of Alex Ross’ The Rest is Noise.”
Your choir colleagues, yoga teacher, or contacts at local opera companies probably aren’t expecting you to send a bottle of something (though, thanks to Trader Joe’s, $5 now goes a long way toward a quality vino). However, they will appreciate a card with a personal note. “I’m generally a fan of heartfelt card-writing,” says mezzo-soprano Eva Parr.
If your list is short this year, you may even consider hand-making your cards for a more personal touch. Websites like Shutterfly.com also allow you to design your own cards—great for personalization, time saving, and ensuring that you’re purchasing only the amount of cards you need.
The wardrobe coordinator for the opera you were in last April (whom you haven’t spoken with since but still see on Facebook) will be more than happy to receive an e-card.
Give from the Heart, Not from the Wallet
“I’ll also give a present to a colleague who has passed an important opportunity my way, but never anything fancy,” adds Swartz. When it comes to people like your teachers and coaches, something small and heartfelt is more than enough. If your coach is a Bel Canto buff, spend an afternoon hand-picking and arranging a mix CD full of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini, along with rarer names such as Carafa, Coccia, and Pavesi.
Plug into your other talents as well. A knack for baking may come in handy—especially if a particularly close colleague is an Italian homesick for pizzelles. A batch of cookies or brownies is also a great alternative to tipping your doorman, hair stylist, or building super. Find a nice skein of yarn and knit a scarf for your ENT, the project itself a great destressor in what is often a high-stress time of year.
If you consider DIY to be a four-letter word, turn your attention toward Etsy.com. Check out their
Vintage and Supplies sections for a selection of ephemera including sheet music, libretti, and—one recent find—a collection of 20 vintage composer portraits for $15. That covers 20 friends for less than $1 each.
Make a Case for Charity
Don’t pull a George Costanza and tell friends and family that a donation has been made in their name to a made-up charity (remember the Human Fund?). Do, however, consider charitable gifts as a meaningful and inexpensive option. AlternativeGifts.org allows you to make a donation as low as $1 in a friend or family member’s honor towards a number of projects around the world—from uniting women farmers in Sudan to building sustainable homes in Nicaragua to inoculating orphans in Vietnam. The certificate won’t reveal how much you spend, and even a buck will go a long way to help these projects in need.
Kiva.com is another organization that allows you to purchase gift certificates (for a minimum of $25) that are then used as micro-loans to start-up companies in the third world. These loans are paid back, which means your Secret Santa or aunt can loan the same $25 to multiple entrepreneurs for an unlimited amount of time.
Don’t Forget the Golden Ticket
James Harrington has multiple irons in the Nashville music
scene, a situation that offers him plenty of free tickets and a creative way of using them. “The cool thing about doing all the classical gigs in town is that they’re big productions that my friends would love to go to, but can’t afford,” explains the bass. “So one of my favorites is giving out either my free tickets to an invited dress or grabbing them discounted last-minute tickets so they can bring a date or come in tandem. Rather than being extravagant, they actually know someone on stage, so it’s personal and it’s something I don’t get to share with a lot of people.”
Even if you’re not due for another performance until next year, leaving an I.O.U. in a friend’s Christmas or Hanukkah card gives them something to look forward to, especially if they’re not in the classical music industry. Something that may seem old hat to you is a new and exciting experience for someone else. Similarly, if there is a show you know your brother is dying to see and you know someone in the cast, don’t be afraid to ask around for a comp or a discount.
Offer a New Time Signature
Your schedule is packed, especially at this time of year when church and choir gigs are at an all-time high. Some singers I know haven’t slept in their own bed for more than a week straight before leaving for the next job or audition. They’re lucky, but they’re also rarely home. Many of their friends and family members are, above all, just happy for quality time.
“I place a high value on one-on-one interaction, and so do my friends,” says Harrington. “There’s something really special to a lot of people about knowing you’re clearing your schedule to focus entirely on them. .
“We spend so much time on social media and whizzing around and multitasking and maybe-see-you-for-coffee-next-week-ing. I think there’s nothing small or cheap about some old fashioned face-to-face. That someone took two hours out of a busy schedule to sit and talk and be present is no small thing.”
Set aside a Saturday afternoon to go to a museum with your best friend. Grab your significant other and go for a walk around the park or along the waterfront. Take your parents out to dinner (or, better yet, make your parents dinner). Turn off your mobile phone. Plan something out of the ordinary—a night of karaoke with your close pals.
“Wouldn’t that be a great alternative to holiday swag,” remarks Swartz.
