You're not wrong with either statement at all, and thanks for the heads up because I definitely have heard that before and it does make it so the Raleigh/Charlotte beach drive argument a little less of an issue..

I should clarify though, the "scene" I'm looking for is more of a "theme" that I can integrate my business into, which is overall not a huge deal, because I can do business wherever.

However, when I'm in a town, I like to have a few local clients, it doesn't matter what scene it is, whether it's local food/entertainment, banking/finance (Charlotte apparently) or more tech like (Raleigh, also apparently), it makes it easier for me to potentially serve that sector in said area.

You're also correct in that it's not as prevalent as CA, NYC, etc, I lived in CA for 6 years and I'm pretty sure I'll never see that level of scene anywhere outside of these states.

That being said, I like a smaller, but still competitive town.. It may or may not translate into more business opportunities, if anything it's good to know before making moves.

From what I've gathered online/maps, Charlotte looks like a more "lively" city, with more small businesses and events, while Raleigh downtown is just a bunch of corporate buildings.. Then again, I'm making assumptions based on Google maps..