My son is playing the solo from Meditation from Thais (OK...he's a violinist not a pianist, but I figure someone here would have a good idea about this anyway.) with an orchestra next week and I'm wondering what to give him afterwards. If he were a girl, I'd definitely go with flowers, but I really don't think he cares anything about them. Any ideas? He's 15, by the way. Would a book of sheet music he's been wanting work?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Laura

A baseball?

my son would give the flowers I gave him (if I did) back to me.

Sheet music would be fantastic or a gift certificate to the music store. I think it would be hard to tell whether or not he would appreciate flowers.

He doesn't like baseball either.

I think the sheet music would be good but I'd try to see if I could think of something else that would be a little more "fun."

I'd say for sure that you shouldn't do flowers.

There's really nothing wrong with flowers - just maybe not red roses. I've been to several piano recitals given by male pianists in the past year, and each time a pretty girl has come on stage to give the pianist a bunch of flowers, and in turn the pianist has given the girl a peck on the cheek (three pecks if the pianist is French...).

It's all about equality of sexes these days. Giving a male soloist a baseball on stage is a total no-no. (Off stage, yes!).

Sheet music sounds great to me ! maybe a new CD of something inspiring ?? (depends what he's listening to..)

Yes -- IMO that's a few steps better than sheet music.

Wrap the sheetmusic nice and fancy, so it will be pretty like flowers, but it won't be flowers...

How wonderful that you son will be participating and deserving of a praise of flowers, music, or a CD.

There is nothing like a flower bouquet as it is what is the history of rewards. Tuck in a piece of music or a CD and it becomes a 'forever gift'!

I wouldn't get flowers, at 15 he'd be so embarrassed..

Get him something he's been wanting for a while! Or maybe even a gift card to a music shop - so he can get anything he wants?

Funny that some people think flowers would be fine.....I'm with Pogo.

It wouldn't definitely be that bad, but it's "high risk."

Thank you for all of the replies so far! It's very helpful to me and is giving me lots to think about.

I'd already pretty much decided not to give him flowers. Even though he has no problem performing in front of lots of people, he's basically shy and doesn't like a big fuss. I think whatever I give him will be given in private afterwards.

So far I'm leaning towards a CD, prettily wrapped, if I can figure out what he would like; otherwise the gift certificate.

Laura

Until your last post, I wasn't sure whether you were asking what to present him, on stage, following the performance or what to give him as an acknowledgment gift after the event.

It seems more common in Europe to present flowers to male performers, but even that is usually after a solo recital.

Since this appears to be an after-concert gift, you're probably now on the right track.

Regards,

I wasn't either, and in fact I was thinking more likely it was "on stage" even though she said "afterwards."

Other suggestions....a big box of chocolates? Some men's cologne? Wrapped elaborately of course.

15 years old ? Pay him a visit to a house of ill repute !

Your comment is neither funny nor in good taste

15 years old ? Get him a bottle of vodka and a copy of Playboy magazine.

it has been a custom to provide the soloist with flowers, I'm always glad to recieve them, your son should also be, it's part of the podium-experience!

Tweedpipe - I'm sure the kid's Mom (the OP) will be happy to do that !!

I agree with dolce, its part of the whole thing.

Dolce -

Customs are a tad different on this side of the Atlantic !!

You Nederlanders are just trying to boost flower sales.

True. Give the kid a six-shooter !

it all depends on local custom, ours are old indeed, but cherished.

i got once flower but it was from a female teacher... it wasnt awkward but if it had been from a male teacher it would certainly...

True ... but that thought also crossed my mind.

Over here a bouquet after the concert is given to every performer, it's just what's done.

A perfect gift is a gift certificate.

If it was my son in question, I'd prefer that he spend his time in a house of ill repute than getting sloshed by himself with a Playboy magazine.

I'm not so sure about that. I've been given flowers several times after performances, but then none of those were when I was 15.