Gift Ideas For The Actors In Your Life

Watching amazing performances on the stage, the big screen, or on your phone in the middle of the night when you can’t sleep always leaves one feeling in awe. And those stories we see aren’t possible without the amazing minds of writers, crew, and of course, actors. Actors breathe life on the pages and bring the energy needed to bring those scripts to life. And there are a lot of life-changing performances out there that have inspired ideas for many people. 

If you have a friend, family member, and/or loved one that’s an aspiring actor then you know the ups and downs of the face on a daily basis. From auditions and callbacks, to long rehearsal days, and working a million side-jobs just to make ends meet. There are a lot of things an actor needs and if you’ve been wanting to do something special for the actor in your life then you’re in the right place as we have a list of gift ideas for actors that will make for some delightful surprises! 

Obviously there are many avenues you can go down for gifts. You can go the more practical route of money for headshots and classes. Or you can go for some fun gift cards to places they love all thanks to GiftYa. GiftYa is a website and mobile app that sells eGift cards to thousands of places all over the country like restaurants, famous retailers, fast-food chains, online stores & subscription services, spas, hotels, airlines, and more. You can send anyone a digital gift card for up to $250 via text or email at any time of day thanks to their instant e-delivery. Add a custom photo, video, message, and gift wrap to the card to make the gift pop. Anyone, especially an actor, will appreciate this surprise gift.

Looking for even more gift ideas for performers? Check out our related blog post: Last Minute Gifts for Performers

Since both regular gifts and gift cards are super beneficial to actors we thought we’d do a combo list of regular gifts and gift cards that will definitely be appreciated. Starting first with a gift card we have…

1. Moe's

Get your favorite Tex-Mex mixes and dishes made fresh and fast!

Email A Moe’s Gift Card

“Welcome to Moe’s!” – That’s what you hear every time you open the door and walk into a Moe’s Southwest Grill. And what a welcome indeed! Immediately you’ll be hit with scents of freshly cooked meats, plant-based proteins, veggies, rice, and spices. And if you weren't hungry before you will be when you see what they have on the menu. 

Moe’s is famous for making “fast” food actually tasty and you can customize your own bowl, burrito, salad, and quesadilla exactly to your liking. Want an extra scoop of beans? The team at Moe’s will be more than happy to provide. And when you’re done with your order you get a free bag of chips and salsa to go home with as it comes with every order- how sweet is that? 

You can Purchase a GiftYa Gift Card to Moe’s here!

2. Subscriptions to Casting Websites

Getting yourself out there is important to an actor and finding casting opportunities is the way to do it!

Since the digital age has skyrocketed, more and more casting websites have been popping up in recent years allowing for young and old talent to put themselves out there so casting directors and other inquiring artists can try to find the actor they’ve been dreaming of. There are a lot of casting websites out there that take money to help keep your name in the zeitgeist. Think of it like an actor streaming service. Here are a couple casting websites that many have used and can vouch for:

• Backstage has been around for a while, starting as a magazine in the 1960s. Their memberships range from $9.99 to $19.95 per month- depending on the type of subscription you pay for.
• actors access is another service that’s been around for a while and they have a “Free Plan” where you will be charged $2.00 fee each time they wish to submit to a casting call and the “Actors Access” annual plan which is $68.00 per year which gives you the submissions for free and other perks.

3. An AMC Theatres Gift Card

Go see the latest blockbuster and indie hits- as an actor it’s good to do!

Text An AMC Theatres Gift Card

Movies have a way of gripping us, and those who are in the field even more so because they know all of the hard work and effort it took to make that movie happen. Actors pay attention to details regular movie-goers might not notice. And getting tickets to see the latest up and coming cult classic is a great way for actors to see others work. So getting your loved one an AMC Theatres gift card is a great gift as they can use it to go buy tickets to multiple different movies they’ve been wanting to see this year.

From comedy, to drama, romance, action, sci-fi, and bio-pics, there are plenty of movies out there that flex an actors skills and seeing them on the big screen is the best way to see them. You’ll get to kick back with a bag of popcorn while taking in all of the incredible performances- what’s better than that?

You can Purchase a GiftYa Gift Card to AMC Theatres here!

4. Classes and Workshops

The best way to work on your craft is to, well, work on it with a bunch of other aspiring actors!

There are a lot of acting and casting classes and workshops out there that help young actors hone their craft into something they are more than confident in. They help build confidence and train muscles that might be lacking- both mentally and physically. They are also great to get your name out there amongst other actors and potential casting directors who may come see some work you and your troop are putting on. 

Though classes and workshops are great, they often cost money, so paying for a round of classes would make the actor in your life especially happy. But we will say do your research beforehand if you want this to be a surprise, or talk to your loved one about what classes they’ve been wanting to go to as there are scams out there that might try to take your money.

5. A Barnes & Noble Gift Card

Get all the books about acting you could ever imagine all in this well-loved retail chain!

Email A Barnes & Noble Gift Card

Barnes & Noble is the bookstore of bookstores, they are famous for having just about every book you could want or need. They also have writing utensils, journals, board games, collectibles, and more.

Books hold a variety of knowledge varying from many different topics and genres, there’s Young Adult (YA) guilty pleasures, fantasies, adventure books, autobiographies, self-help books, and of course stacks of informative books out there with tons of information on your preferred topic. In this case: acting.

There are many books about acting out there like The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide by Jenna Fischer from The Office and The Art of Acting by Stella Adler are two fan-favorites. You can learn a lot more about the field even if you think you already know a lot about it. Plus it helps give you the insight and the confidence to put yourself out there and keep on trying.

You can Purchase a GiftYa Gift Card to Barnes & Noble here!

6. A Camera, Microphone, and Green-Screen

All of these essentials are needed for a good self-tape as those are becoming the norm for many auditions

Self-tapes have been a thing for a long time now but ever since the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020 started, self-tapes have ramped up and now it’s the preferred method for a lot of casting agencies. More and more actors have to audition on tape at home and with that they have to have a proper camera, microphone, and other essentials like a green screen to make their self-tape both look good and sound good. Here are a few tech products that might make your friend super happy:

• For cameras we’d recommend first the Canon EOS R100 4K Video Mirrorless Camera with RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens on sale for $499.99 at Best Buy. 
• Second is the Sony - ZV-1F Vlog Camera for Content Creators and Vloggers also for $499.99 at Best Buy which is a great deal for a quality camera.
• If your phone camera's quality is up to par but the mic could be better than this Shure MV88+ Video Kit with Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone from Apple for $249.95 is a great pick to pick up clean and crisp audio.
• Or if you need something wireless the RØDE - Wireless PRO Dual-Channel Wireless Microphone System from Best Buy for $399.99.
• Then finally for green screens we have this Westcott Wrinkle-Resistant Chromakey Backdrop (Green Screen, 9 x 10’) from B&H Photo Video for $84.90 which can be folded up and stored with ease for the next time you need it. Some great gift ideas for actors!

7. A Sunoco Gift Card

Next time you need to fill up your gas tank- use this gift card instead!

Buy A Sunoco Gift Card

When you’re in the art world, there is a lot of traveling from one place to another, and with that comes a lot of time in your car. And that means you’re going to be spending a pretty penny on gas. 

With gas prices fluctuating higher and higher nowadays the struggling actor trying to budget for that can be stressful so that’s why we recommend getting them a Sunoco gift card that can help cover the cost of their next couple tanks of gas. 

Sunoco is a popular gas station that has over 5,000 locations in the country so the chances of you having one close to you to use are high. Next time you’re traveling for a job, use this gift card to help cover the cost of gas.

You can Purchase a GiftYa Gift Card to Sunoco here!

8. Paper and Printer

Never again worry about having to go somewhere to print out your sides and headshots!

When you’re acting on the stage and/or screen you’ll be presenting with a lot of sides which are scenes from the script you’re bringing to life. Those sides and scripts also use a lot of paper and being able to print out your own copy to highlight, add annotations, and keep with you on hand in your backpack can be very useful to any actor. Along with that is being able to print out your own headshots to give to agencies instead of going to your local grocery store is a time and money saver. That’s why we recommend this boring, yet very practical and useful gift of paper and a printer:

• This HP - ENVY Inspire 7255e Wireless All-In-One Inkjet Photo Printer with 3 months of Instant Ink included with HP+ from Best Buy on sale for $149.99 is great for photos.
• This Canon PIXMA™ TS7720 Wireless Home All-in-One Inkjet Color Printer is great for scripts and is budget-friendly too, as it is currently on sale for $79.99 at Office Depot.
• And then we have the 500ct Letter Printer Paper White for $5.59 when purchased online at Target which will keep supplies high for a while.

9. ULTA Beauty

Prep your look with the best make up in the game! A great gift idea for actors everywhere!

Text An ULTA Beauty Gift Card

The last thing an actor wants is to go into an audition or scene ill-prepared and not looking their best. Luckily there are many self-care and beauty products out there designed to help make you both look and feel your best. And ULTA Beauty is the ultimate retailer for all things self-care and beauty.

They’ve got seemingly endless supplies of make-up, hair care products, nail care, body care, fragrance sprays, tools, and brushes. You can get the things from the brands you love so you can go into your next audition feeling as confident as you’ve ever been. It’s also great to have stuff for you- not just for auditions and stage. Treat yourself to something nice that’ll boost your confidence in life.

You can Purchase a GiftYa Gift Card to ULTA Beauty here!

10. A Visa Gift Card from Gift Card Granny

A gift card you can use at multiple different stores and restaurants- not just one!

Buy A Visa Gift Card

Nothing like giving the actor the choice to set the stage exactly how they want! And that’s exactly what this Custom Visa Gift Card from Gift Card Granny is here for as you can use this card in not just one store, but any business that accepts Visa cards.

That’s right, you can buy clothes for your upcoming audition and grab a much-needed bite to eat right after all using this Visa gift card. Add up to $500 on this card, along with a picture and gift message telling them “Good Luck” on their future job opportunities. You can send this card via email or have it made as a plastic card sent in the mail- how cool!

You can Purchase a Custom Visa Gift Card from Gift Card Granny here!

Those are some gift ideas for actors that will definitely be meaningful and delightful to get. They will help out the aspiring artist and give them a chance to worry a little less on all those little stressors.