As with any type of business, determining your niche can be a key step in order to identifying your audience, sound, branding and a consistent means of income. For some, determining a niche is easy; heck, they may even be born into their musical niche like Corey Hager. While for others, it may be challenging to narrow their musical scope down to a niche especially if they are good at and enjoy a variety of styles, instruments and aesthetics. Here are four things to consider when you are trying to narrow your niche.
What Music Style Complements Your Vocal Range and Abilities?
We all have a variety of songs in a variety of genres that we love to belt out, be it on stage or in the car. An important thing to consider when performing professionally is this: your selections need to be tailored to your vocal abilities more than your vehicular karaoke performances are. If a song is making you strain or push your voice beyond its limits, maybe you need to set it aside – even if it is a “crowd pleaser.” Sometimes the most helpful way to determine your set is by getting some feedback from some honest musician friends.
What Style of Singing, Playing, Performing, Etc. Gives You The Most Confidence and Joy?
Another consideration is simply this: what do you feel good performing? If a song makes you nervous or simply doesn’t resonate with you, scrap it. If your music isn’t giving you joy then there’s no sense in playing it. Identify the songs and musical genre that allows you to feel the most yourself and lean into – and not an idea of yourself, your real self.
What Style of Music Allows You To Feel The Most Connection To Your Audience and Vice Versa?
This is important. If your performance feels like a gag, fake or disconnected, your audience will know and follow suit. Find the genre that you feel the most yourself in and bring that to your audience to encounter and connect with them. This, over gimmicks, is what will foster your noticeable footprint in the music sphere.
Just Commit.
This one is probably where it gets the hardest! Sometimes we avoid committing to a niche because we are afraid of choosing the “wrong one” or missing out on an opportunity. But you know the saying, if you try to be everything to everyone, you’ll be end up being nothing to anyone. Fight through the fear of committing and just dive into a lane. There’s no shame in making a shift later, but the worst decision you can make is indecision.
