inspirational gift

Thinking of gift ideas for the music fans in your life might seem that difficult. Your first thought will probably be getting them the latest CD from their favourite band or a band t-shirt, which are great gifts, but they're not very original are they? Besides, they've probably already bought these things for themselves.

After a few birthdays and Christmas' giving them the same boring presents again and again, finding something good can get very stressful very quickly.

So when it comes to the next gift-giving event why not think outside the box and try something a little more unusual?

There are a lot of good ideas out there if you're willing to shop around and put a bit of thought into it.

One great idea is getting them tickets to see their favourite act live. There's nothing better than hearing first-class music played live in front of you, and a good gig can turn from a simple night out into a cherished life-long memory.

It's probably best to get them an extra ticket too (they probably won't enjoy going alone!) or going with them yourself and enjoying the experience together.

If going to shows isn't really their kind of thing there are plenty of things to get them that they can enjoy at home.

An excellent purchase, if you've got a bit of money to spend, is old or rare recordings by their favourite group.

This is a particularly good gift for someone who likes old groups who may not be recording anymore because it's buying them a little bit of history. They might not ever play the record but even the half-hearted fan will love owning it and being able to show it off!

Other gifts along the same lines work well too. Collectables and memorabilia make great presents because it's something different and rarer than the average merchandise available.

How much you'll have to pay depends largely on which music group you're looking for. If you have a crazy Beatles fan to buy for you're going to have to spend more money than for most modern groups!

Not everything has to cost a fortune though. A good cheaper alternative is autographs and signed photographs. These items don't cost as much as other collectables and they're still a great, personal bit of whichever star or celebrity you're looking for.

Shopping around on the internet can come in really handy when looking for more unusual gifts. Try auction websites and specialists; you will usually find the best prices from sellers like these. Be careful with your money though. Always check your items are authentic and only buy from reputable sellers.

Record stores and high street retailers are worth trying too. Stay away from the big name stores as they'll probably only sell t shirts and other run-of-the-mill merchandise. Try the smaller outlets and specialists and you might find something a bit special.

Whatever you decide to get, your gift will surely be much appreciated. They probably won't be expecting anything like it and they'll love the extra thought that's gone into choosing it.

The only problem then is you'll have to better it next year!

If you are looking for something as a gift or for your own collection, visit <a onClick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.genuinememorabilia.co.uk/rock-pop/cat_7.html">Genuine Memorabilia</a> who have a huge collection of signed items!