Earning that first dollar is incredibly special and a moment many never forget. We asked some very talented creatives from the community to tell us the story of the first dollar they earned from their creative works.

Aly Rowell

I grew up playing gospel and church music semi-professionally, but it wasn’t until last year that I received any money doing my own stuff. At one of my early gigs, a very kind audience member actually vemoed me $500 toward my record. I was absolutely floored by his generosity- I had no idea people would resonate that deeply with my art. Whenever I need to remind myself that I can do this artist thing, I look back at that venmo note. Read more>>

Rhace Wylee

My first dollar earned as a creative, at the time of this writing, hasn’t made it’s way into my possession yet. I’ve been investing in myself since 7th grade, I saved up for 3 years to buy my first MacBook. That was the first time I went broke for this. I worked almost full time outside of high school since I got my license until I moved out, about 3 years’ time, and went broke again using that money to survive and thrive in Phoenix. That was the 2nd time I went broke in pursuit of being a creative. Read more>>

Warren Pettey

The first dollar I made as a pianist was earned at my local hospital at 8 years old. My parents used to take me to the piano in the lobby to practice performing live and I was paid in tips and a $5 ticket to the cafeteria. I still have my first $1 tip although I have a feeling my dad had a stranger put in his dollar bill to encourage me – I wasn’t very good at the time. Read more>>

Marc Rob

I’ve been a designer for over 10 years and I’ve done designs for many companies in fashion and products and services. I’ve always had a passion for fashion as well so this year I’m releasing my fall/winter collection. I just recently sold quite a few pieces to a client before my initial release and the joy of making money off my visions and seeing others want to buy and appreciate the style gave me more motivation to keep going. Read more>>

Sezin Turkmenoglu

I started playing concerts with a variety of bands when I was around 16 and made some bucks. I remember playing at a few bars around town and I had to have someone present with me to be able to be there and perform. Back in the day police would sometimes do ID checks at bars randomly and fortunately, that never happened when I was in a bar playing music. Read more>>

Annie Wolk

The significance of earning my initial dollar as a creative is unforgettable. It not only reinforced belief in my craft but also highlighted the value of my work, providing a confidence boost to persist forward and continue to do what I love, which is creating one of a kind pieces of art. Read more>>

Clay Johnson

I was involved in forming my first real band in college at Louisiana Tech University, and it was for an on campus talent show of all things. We were all music students who were frustrated with the lack of opportunities to perform with the university jazz band, so we put together a rhythm section and four horns with me on vocals, and we shed a few songs. One of which was a burning tune by Harry Connick, Jr, called “Just Kiss Me,” and we brought the talent show house down with it! Read more>>

Carolina Ramirez Espinal

Blessings, sending lots of love to all worldwide. My first dollar earned as a creative was via a very generous man and his wife. The painting was titled “HOME” and it sold for twenty dollars. When I would go pick up my kids from the bus stop this man would always stand there to wait on his kids as well. One time I was a bit late to pick up my kids, which was going to turn into a whole chaos if it wasn’t for him as the bus driver wanted to call the police and accuse me of neglect, this very kind man said no one is taking those kids as long as I am here, there mom is on her way she would never leave her kids, I did get to the bus stop and thanked him from the bottom of my heart. Read more>>

Kim Joyce

After I graduated college, I made my 1st solo music project, an EP, and made my first dollar from music on crutches selling to people on the street. Read more>>

Samuel McKnight

In 2014, I earned my first dollar when an artist approached me to create a music video. He expressed a desire to film at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, despite not being a student there. To accomplish this, he asked a friend if we could clandestinely use one of the classrooms, and remarkably, we managed to do so without getting caught. The artist was incredibly enthusiastic about the project, as it marked his inaugural music video. Read more>>

Bella Baez

Earning my first dollars as a creative was an unforgettable moment for me. It was more than just earning money; it symbolized the recognition and appreciation of my art and talents. This initial earning, whether from a DJ gig, a performance, or a modeling job, wasn’t just a paycheck – it was a validation of my creative journey. It marked a key turning point, reinforcing my belief in my artistic path and spurring me on to further explore and develop my craft. Read more>>

Day Peace

Before I “officially” started pursuing comedy — after having done only a few open mics I had the opportunity to open up for a nationally touring headliner traveling through North Iowa. I agree to open with a 10 to 15 minute set. The night before the show the headliner canceled and the bar owner asked me if I wanted to have him cancel the entire show or if I wanted to extend my 10 to 15 minute set to 45 minutes to a hour. Read more>>

David Shair

The first dollar I earned as a creative was when I became a caricature artist at Universal Studios upon first moving to Los Angeles. People would sit down in front of me, and it was my job to draw an exaggerated version of them using markers and color, right there and then. It was hard, it was low-paying, and I had to wear a starchy, collared shirt. But I was making money from doing art! The one problem was I wasn’t very good at it. Read more>>

Winnie Liu

The first dollar I ever earned from my work was when I sold my wares at an art market during my college days! It was the best feeling ever because it had been a goal of mine for year at that point. I attended my first anime convention artist alley as a freshman in high school; seeing the endless rows of booths filled with original and fan art creations filled me with awe. Back then, even dinky phone charms made from laminated paper was quite common! Read more>>

Marcella Young

Not my first dollar earned, but my first cheque from ACTRA was for $50 and I won’t forget that milestone. I had been auditioning for non union projects but when I saw a commercial posting with one of my special skills listed, I submitted myself unrepresented, it was that special skill that made all the difference. Read more>>