Riff Internal — FAIR PLAY Music Equity Initiative

Field Guide Questionnaire.

Hey, welcome friends, we're glad you're here. This questionnaire helps us introduce you to the world. The answers you give here will shape how we introduce you on the Riff Report's Instagram and across our channels. So have fun with it, write the way you talk, and be specific. The best intros come from real details, not polished bios. The last section is just for us, the core team. It's your honest first read on how onboarding has felt, what's working, what's fuzzy, and any ideas you're already carrying. That part stays internal. A few things to know before you start: there are no wrong answers, most questions are optional, and this should take you about ten to fifteen minutes. Write like yourself. That's the whole point.

The Riff Report — Field Guide Questionnaire

This helps us introduce you to Charlotte's music community — and helps the core team learn from you. Take your time, be honest, have fun with it.

Section 1 of 5

Section 01 — The Basics

Let's Start With You

The essentials we need to introduce you properly and get you set up in the system.

Full Name *

Preferred Name / What Should We Call You?

Pronouns

She/Her

He/Him

They/Them

She/They

He/They

Any/All

Contact Info *

Instagram Handle

Neighborhood / Part of Charlotte You're From *

What's your day job, hustle, or primary thing? * Beyond Riff Report — how do you spend most of your time?

What other creative or community work are you involved in? Any other projects, bands, orgs, or side things we should know about?

Section 02 — Background & Story

How You Got Here

This is what we'll pull from for your intro post. Be specific. The best quotes come from real moments, not summaries.

How did you find out about the Riff Report? * Be specific — who told you, what did you see, what was the moment?

Friend or word of mouth

Instagram

A show or event

FairPlay connection

School or program

Why did you say yes? * What made you actually commit — not just look into it, but show up?

What are you most excited about? * The most honest answer — what's the thing that has you genuinely pumped?

Have you done anything like this before? Journalism, blogging, content creation, photography, reporting — any prior experience?

Totally new to this

Some blogging or social content

Photography or video

School journalism

Professional writing

Other media work

One sentence bio — how would you introduce yourself to Charlotte? * Write it like you'd say it out loud, not like a LinkedIn headline.

160

Section 03 — Music & Charlotte

The Scene, Your Ear, Your City

This is the heart of it. Tell us who you are as a music person and what Charlotte means to you.

What genres or sounds are you deep in right now? * Not your "music taste" — what's in rotation this month?

What's your relationship to Charlotte's music scene?

I go to shows all the time

I'm a musician myself

I work in or around music

I'm newer to being out in it

I listen more than I go out

Deep in a specific corner of it

Name a Charlotte artist or band more people should know about. * Just one — the first name that came to mind before you second-guessed yourself.

What about Charlotte's music scene do you love? * The real answer — what makes you proud of this city's music culture?

What frustrates you about it? What's the thing you wish more people talked about or actually fixed?

Your favorite venue in Charlotte — and why.

Most memorable show you've ever been to. Doesn't have to be in Charlotte. Just the one that changed something.

Section 04 — Zeitgeist

Hot Takes & Hard Questions

No wrong answers. We want your actual opinions — the kind you'd say at 11pm after a great show.

Biggest bad actor in the music industry right now. * The villain — a platform, a practice, a player, a trend. Who or what is doing the most damage?

Biggest underdog in music right now. An artist, a genre, a city, a format — who's being slept on at scale?

The unsung hero. The person, role, or institution that makes music work but nobody talks about.

A music take you have that would start a fight. Something you genuinely believe that most people in your circles would push back on.

The last album or project that genuinely surprised you. Not necessarily your favorite — the one that changed how you were hearing things.

Streaming has been... *

Mostly good for music

Mostly bad for artists

Good for listeners, bad for makers

It's complicated and I'll explain

I don't think about it that hard

A non-music influence that shapes how you see music. A book, a film, a sport, a city, a person — something outside music that informs your ear.

Quick fire — first instinct only.

Vinyl or streaming?

Vinyl always

Streaming mostly

Both depending on mood

CDs actually

Festival or intimate venue?

Festival energy

Small room, close stage

Depends on the artist

Front row or back of the room?

Front row, always

Back, I want to see everything

Bar adjacent, let's be real

Wherever the energy is

Section 05 — Pulse Check

Just Between Us

This section is for the core team. Your name is still attached to the submission, but this feedback goes to leadership only and informs how we build this thing better.

Feedback for Core Team Only

First impressions — how has onboarding felt so far? *

Overwhelming Clear & exciting 5

What's been the clearest part of this so far? What do you actually understand well — the thing that landed.

What's still fuzzy or confusing? No wrong answers. What do you wish had been explained differently or more clearly?

Is there something you want to do that hasn't been mentioned yet? A format, an idea, a type of coverage, a specific project — something you brought to this role.

Is there anything you've been asked to do that feels like too much right now? Be honest. We'd rather know now than lose you later.

One idea you have for how we could do this better. Any idea — big, small, half-baked. Shoot.

How supported do you feel right now? *

On my own Fully backed 5

Anything else you want the core team to know?

By submitting, you're giving us permission to use your interview answers (Sections 01–04) to introduce you on the Riff Report's Instagram and other channels. Pulse Check responses (Section 05) go to core team only.

🎙️

You're In.

Welcome to the Riff Report. Your answers are with the team and we'll be in touch soon. Keep showing up to shows — your first story is closer than you think.

— Sara, Joseph, Nick & Chris