mommyoffive Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 Ok please help me come up with gifts for the Cast of Nutcracker. I have 4 kids and dh in the Nutcracker this year. I need gifts for a huge cast and company ballet dancers. My son is Nutcracker so I need something special for the girls who play Clara too. Ideas 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodGrief Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 (edited) My kids have been in multiple Nutcrackers, and usually Nutcracker ornaments are distributed. Sometimes show posters signed by the company cast members too. Are the company dancers from out-of-state? Maybe a gift/treat of some kind specific to your area. Maybe flowers for the girls playing Clara. Edited December 18, 2017 by GoodGrief 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storygirl Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 When you say "huge" -- how many people is that? How much do you want to spend per gift? I have found Hershey bars in a wrapper with a Nutcracker on the front in past years. Maybe $1 per bar at Target or the grocery store. Or get a Christmas tree shaped treat (assuming your Nutcracker has the traditional large tree in the party scene). Even cheaper, you can get packages of candy canes and give each person a candy cane with a Christmas greeting attached with curly ribbon. Do they really need to give to the entire cast? Our Nutcracker gifts have only been for others with the same role or in the same dance. You may find something fun at a dollar store. Fuzzy socks, maybe? An ornament? Our dance store has tiny pins (like the size of a button) for $1 each, with many different sayings and pictures on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyoffive Posted December 18, 2017 Author Share Posted December 18, 2017 (edited) When you say "huge" -- how many people is that? How much do you want to spend per gift? I have found Hershey bars in a wrapper with a Nutcracker on the front in past years. Maybe $1 per bar at Target or the grocery store. Or get a Christmas tree shaped treat (assuming your Nutcracker has the traditional large tree in the party scene). Even cheaper, you can get packages of candy canes and give each person a candy cane with a Christmas greeting attached with curly ribbon. Do they really need to give to the entire cast? Our Nutcracker gifts have only been for others with the same role or in the same dance. You may find something fun at a dollar store. Fuzzy socks, maybe? An ornament? Our dance store has tiny pins (like the size of a button) for $1 each, with many different sayings and pictures on them. My dh is a party parent so all the other party kids and parents son is nutcracker so I think he needs to do the Claras, Rats, Rat King and Soliders, and the company dancers Dd is a solider dd is a party girl and garden attendant so she needs to those and the other dd is a pucci so she needs to do those That is pretty much the whole cast Then I think I need to do their teachers, director, maybe the orchestra? I am thinking of getting the younger kids something off Oriental Trading company Each cast has about 150 dancers. There are a few different casts. Edited December 18, 2017 by mommyoffive 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
three4me Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 This year for Sunday school teacher gifts my kids put together packets of mulling spices. Cinnamon stick, a few whole cloves and allspice balls, and a dried lemon slice. They ended up being very economical and their teachers really loved them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicJen Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 This is interesting to me because I did Nutcracker many years and then taught it to the kids when I was older, and beyond a bouquet of flowers to a select few no one ever got any gifts. We had to purchase our costumes and so we got to keep them and honestly for me and my friends getting those costumes was the best gift ever LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 I'm chuckling that the cast of our Nutcracker can't be more than 50! We live in a town, sounds like you are in a city. Can you divide your recipients up a bit, like 12 "large" gifts (ornaments, tea, etc) and 225 "small" gifts (Hershey's kisses, carnations, etc)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyoffive Posted December 18, 2017 Author Share Posted December 18, 2017 This is interesting to me because I did Nutcracker many years and then taught it to the kids when I was older, and beyond a bouquet of flowers to a select few no one ever got any gifts. We had to purchase our costumes and so we got to keep them and honestly for me and my friends getting those costumes was the best gift ever LOL. We don't buy costumes. I thought we would do presents for some, but then yesterday and today everyone started giving out presents. So I know it is a thing there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyoffive Posted December 18, 2017 Author Share Posted December 18, 2017 I'm chuckling that the cast of our Nutcracker can't be more than 50! We live in a town, sounds like you are in a city. Can you divide your recipients up a bit, like 12 "large" gifts (ornaments, tea, etc) and 225 "small" gifts (Hershey's kisses, carnations, etc)? We live in a small town, but they are doing this in a city yes. Yep for sure doing some bigger gifts and smaller gifts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicJen Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 We don't buy costumes. I thought we would do presents for some, but then yesterday and today everyone started giving out presents. So I know it is a thing there. I remember the costumes being expensive so not buying costumes but instead buying small gifts is likely more economical at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 This year for Sunday school teacher gifts my kids put together packets of mulling spices. Cinnamon stick, a few whole cloves and allspice balls, and a dried lemon slice. They ended up being very economical and their teachers really loved them. I just did something similar for my ladies Sunday school class and I like it so much, I'm using it for teacher gifts, neighbor gifts and friend gifts. We have orange trees so we used a fresh orange, fresh cranberries, cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise and a small clipping from our Christmas tree. Added a candy cane to the curling ribbon I tied it with. I bought the spices from the bulk section of our health food store and it was pretty inexpensive. Here are a bunch of potpourri ideas on pinterest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyoffive Posted December 18, 2017 Author Share Posted December 18, 2017 I remember the costumes being expensive so not buying costumes but instead buying small gifts is likely more economical at least. Yes, thanks for that thought. It will help ease my mind this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storygirl Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 My dh is a party parent so all the other party kids and parents When my son was a party boy, he only got a gift from his "dad." Not from all of the other party guests. son is nutcracker so I think he needs to do the Claras, Rats, Rat King and Soliders, and the company dancers I don't see why he would need to give to all of the company dancers. I would think Clara and maybe the soldiers, because he is the head of the soldiers. In our Nutcracker, the mice might get gifts from the Mouse king but not the Nutcracker, because the mice/rats are his enemies :p . Dd is a solider dd is a party girl and garden attendant so she needs to those and the other dd is a pucci so she needs to do those That is pretty much the whole cast Then I think I need to do their teachers, director, maybe the orchestra? Not the orchestra, surely. The teachers and director are at your discretion. Sometimes we gave the dance teachers gifts and sometimes not, but that was for regular classes. We didn't give them gifts for the Nutcracker specifically. I am thinking of getting the younger kids something off Oriental Trading company Each cast has about 150 dancers. There are a few different casts. It sounds like either you are a gift giving person or this cast goes crazy with the gifts. Our Nutcracker gifts have been nominal. Sometimes nothing. Sometimes a candy. I think if you WANT to do this many gifts and can afford it, that you can certainly do so (but it would be a lot of work to get it all ready!). But in my experience, people are grateful for little gifts but do not expect them and don't notice if they don't get something. Personally, I think your list is a little overwhelming. Does everyone really come home with bags of gifts that they received from tons of people? I'm not sure people really want that much candy or that many trinkets???? What if every child gives every teacher and every company member something? That would be a huge number of gifts for those in the leadership positions. I think you should be able to cut it back, unless you really don't want to. If you really want to, go for it, of course!! I'm just saying that you shouldn't feel obligated to do that much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyoffive Posted December 18, 2017 Author Share Posted December 18, 2017 It sounds like either you are a gift giving person or this cast goes crazy with the gifts. Our Nutcracker gifts have been nominal. Sometimes nothing. Sometimes a candy. I think if you WANT to do this many gifts and can afford it, that you can certainly do so (but it would be a lot of work to get it all ready!). But in my experience, people are grateful for little gifts but do not expect them and don't notice if they don't get something. Personally, I think your list is a little overwhelming. Does everyone really come home with bags of gifts that they received from tons of people? I'm not sure people really want that much candy or that many trinkets???? What if every child gives every teacher and every company member something? That would be a huge number of gifts for those in the leadership positions. I think you should be able to cut it back, unless you really don't want to. If you really want to, go for it, of course!! I'm just saying that you shouldn't feel obligated to do that much. I think they go with a lot of gifts. I was expecting something maybe next weekend, but they were handing out gifts already this weekend. Yeah I don't want any of the trinkets or candy, but it seems as like this is what happens. I don't want to be the scrooge. Maybe I could dump some people. We can afford it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storygirl Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 For the Claras, you can't go wrong with flowers. Something simple and sweet -- a single rose or a small bouquet. Fuzzy socks or slippers. A small stuffed animal (mouse?). We have a cupcake place in our area where you can get a small box of six beautiful mini cupcakes for about $5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodGrief Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 (edited) Wow, the gifting really does seem over the top there! :laugh: Sounds like a good time, but nothing like we have experienced. As I said in the previous post, my kids have done many Nutcrackers with a professional cast. One daughter was the Clara one memorable year. But the only gifts were from the school that organized the younger dancers in the cast...ornaments and sometimes posters for all; there wasn't giving between cast members unless they were friends. In the situation you describe, I would really keep it small unless you have serious funds to go toward this. Sounds like everyone is getting a ton of gifts anyway. A Nutcracker themed candy would probably be quite enjoyed by the kids! Edited December 18, 2017 by GoodGrief Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storygirl Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 https://www.amazon.com/JJMax-Womens-Nutcracker-German-Colorful/dp/B00K3B6UBE/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1513571392&sr=8-22&keywords=nutcracker These socks are cute. Four in a pack, so it may be enough for the Claras to each have a pair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storygirl Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 https://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Seasonings-Black-Nutcracker-Sweet/dp/B0028OOY1C/ref=sr_1_192_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1513572018&sr=8-192&keywords=nutcracker Six boxes in a pack, so you could give nutcracker tea to teachers for $4 apiece. Not sure if it will arrive soon enough for you, but maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storygirl Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 https://www.amazon.com/OHill-Keychain-Decorations-Birthday-Decoration/dp/B071V5FPQC/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1513572489&sr=8-9&keywords=emoji+keychains These are fun. DS12 gave them as a birthday party favor this year, and the kids seemed to like them. Even DD15 has one dangling from her backpack. You can order a pack with more or fewer. This pack works out to less than $.50 per keychain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 I've never heard of giving gifts to the cast. Usually the family/friends who are attending the performance give the dancer a small gift or flowers. If you feel you must give gifts, I would do some kind of candy bar with a nutcracker wrapper, a small bag of candies tied with pretty ribbons, or something similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyoffive Posted December 18, 2017 Author Share Posted December 18, 2017 https://www.amazon.com/JJMax-Womens-Nutcracker-German-Colorful/dp/B00K3B6UBE/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1513571392&sr=8-22&keywords=nutcracker These socks are cute. Four in a pack, so it may be enough for the Claras to each have a pair. I like those but they are not there. Poop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 There are Nutcracker themed chapsticks. Maybe attached to a candy cane? I assume this is just a small remembrance. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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