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.

Moana Mayatrix

Two stories come to mind – being about 15 years old and busking in my small country town after school with friends – we made heaps of cash! I maybe it was just because it was so much more than I expected as a teenager. Read more>>

LaKendra Huckaby

I grew up a very lonely and shy child. My family moved a lot due to my father being an evangelist so it was always hard for me to connect with people. Read more>>

Liz Walworth

In college, I interned for a woman who worked at a gallery. I mostly just did odd jobs and errands for her, so I was excited when she let me include a painting in a show she was curating. Read more>>

Dan Gross

During my sophomore year of college, Pearl Wible, my first ever director had just graduated from Emerson and landed a gig directing a limited web series for Disney World. Read more>>

Charlie Harrison

I earned my first dollar performing in a dingy bar on Sixth Street in Austin. I arrived in Austin to go to school and had the good fortune of being paired with a roommate who played guitar. Read more>>

Tony Burkhart

I had been involved in music for almost a decade when my wife and I opened our home basement studio for business. We received our first paying client through a friend’s referral… a custom “cheer mix” for a competitive cheerleading team. Read more>>