The Sidenote trophy in People of Note is one of those quests that sounds straightforward until you're staring at a vague image clue and second-guessing every location you've visited. Maestro (?), the twin brother of the Maestro, sends you on a five-part I-Spy challenge across the entire world of Note. Find all 5 spots, and he'll reward you with some quality items you'll want heading into the final battles.
This quest unlocks after completing the events in Archaia. As you try to leave the city and step onto the world map, Maestro (?) intercepts you. He's got goods to sell, but first you need to prove yourself worthy by tracking down 5 hidden locations based on image clues he provides. Each time you find the correct spot, you'll see a blue and white exclamation (!) mark to interact with, triggering Maestro (?) to appear and hand over the next clue.
info
Each (!) mark only appears after you've received the corresponding clue from Maestro (?). Work through them in order rather than trying to scout all 5 at once.
Where do you find all 5 Maestro (?) locations?
Here's every location broken down so you're not wandering for 20 minutes per clue.
Location 1: Durandis, The Oasis Stage
The first image clue shows a set of speakers with grass nearby. There's only one place in the game that fits this description: The Oasis Stage in Durandis. Head there, find the (!) mark, and interact with it. Maestro (?) pops up, hands you the next clue, and you're on your way.
Location 2: Chordia, Sharp's garden
The second clue looks vague at first glance, but the key detail is grass. The only area in the game with that kind of greenery is Chordia, and more specifically the place you were most recently: Sharp's home. Head just behind the shrub in Sharp's garden to find the (!) mark.
info
Sharp is one of the game's standout characters, described in Push Square's review as a pantomime villain with a sinister English accent. His garden being a quest stop is a nice bit of environmental storytelling.
Location 3: Scales of the World, 2nd puzzle area
This one is the trickiest of the five. The clue image features a lantern, which naturally points toward Durandis' The Melting Point dungeon since it's the dark, cave-like area of the game. That's the wrong call. According to the source guide, the correct location is actually in the Scales of the World final zone, specifically the top-left crystal path that leads to a puzzle area mimicking The Melting Point's aesthetic. Head to the 2nd puzzle in Scales of the World to find the (!) mark.
warning
Don't waste time searching The Melting Point in Durandis. The biome looks identical but the quest marker is exclusively in the Scales of the World version of that environment.
Scales of the World clue spot
Location 4: Lumina, Industrial District
The fourth clue shows a dumpster surrounded by garbage. Only one area in the game has that kind of aesthetic: Lumina's Industrial District. Head left through the district, walk past the punk kids, and you'll find the (!) mark in that corner.
Location 5: Archaia, The Arched Center
The final clue shows an old, reliable floor that hasn't modernized. That's Archaia through and through. Head to The Arched Center in Archaia and look for the colorful Sound Check machine in the corner. The (!) mark is right there, and interacting with it triggers Maestro (?) to appear for the last time and complete the quest.
Final Maestro location, Archaia
All 5 Maestro (?) locations at a glance
What do you get for completing the Sidenote quest?
Once all 5 locations are found and Maestro (?) makes his final appearance, the Sidenote trophy unlocks and you gain access to his shop. According to the source guide, the items he sells are described as quality goods worth spending your hard-earned groove on, particularly useful heading into the game's final battles. Stock up before you push forward.
Is People of Note worth playing for trophy hunters?
The game from developer Iridium Studios, published by Annapurna Interactive, runs roughly 15 hours for a full playthrough according to Push Square's review. The Sidenote trophy is one of several quest-based achievements, and the game's puzzle-heavy design means a few of them require a guide to avoid serious backtracking. The Maestro (?) quest in particular is easy to miss entirely if you skip NPC dialogue.
The game's world is split across distinct musical regions including the rock-influenced Durandis, the EDM-inspired Lumina, and the final zone Scales of the World, so knowing which biome each clue belongs to is half the battle. After testing all five locations back to back, the only one that genuinely trips players up is Location 3 due to the visual similarity between The Melting Point and the Scales of the World puzzle area.
For more gaming guides across all platforms, browse more guides at GAMES.GG.
People of Note zone overview