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.
Lamont Saint Watson
I landed my very first paid gig as a singer my sophomore year in undergrad. The opportunity came through my pianist at the time, Carol. Carol had the most radiant crown of white hair, and she was an admirer of my voice. Sometimes it seemed she believed in my talent more than I did. Looking back, I realize her enthusiasm was like a balm to my perpetual self-doubt, which was rooted in an unrelenting pursuit of perfection. Read more>>
Echo Tang
Earning my first dollar as a creative was a transformative experience, both challenging and exhilarating. It came from a project I undertook for an independent artist’s solo exhibition at The Kitchen in Chelsea, NYC. The show explored themes of Black liberation and womanist praxis, and I was tasked with integrating AR technology to the artist’s painted work to add extra layer of interactivity. Collaborating closely with the studio commissioning the pieces, I found myself at the intersection of art and technology, a junction fraught with both opportunities and obstacles. Read more>>
Matt Deblass
I earned my first pay as a working musician when I was still in high school. Some of my teachers had a group that would play at local events, wedding receptions, school reunions and the like, and they would sometimes recruit band students to fill in to help us get our first taste of working in professional music. It was the first time I had a sense that you could make money doing something outside of a punch-clock job. Throughout the subsequent decades I’ve made performance a greater or smaller part of my total income, but I’ve also applied that thinking to other skill sets such as writing and editing. Read more>>
Latika Sims
I finally published my first book on November 14th, 2024. My sister Erica and her husband Julian bought the very first copy. I felt like I was finally on the right track. Read more>>
Ann Guidera-matey
I stayed home with my kids when they were little. During their nap times, I would paint. I did this for about a year or two and also took art lessons at the local art center.. One fall I took three paintings to a local gift shop/gallery and they were accepted. I thought if the paintings did not sell by Thanksgiving, I would gift them to friends and family for Christmas. When I went to pick up the paintings, One large piece had sold. That was 40 years ago and i can still remember the feelings of surprise, pride and excitement. I was ecstatic I remember thinking that someone buying a painting of mine was better than sex. Read more>>
Colescott Rubin
I became a professional performing musician when I was 16 years old by busking on the streets of Portland, Oregon in the dead of winter. I would take the bus with my double bass to the handful of winter farmers markets around town and play swing music there with a friend or two. Because the weather was not great, we were usually the only musicians out there and we did alright in tips from what I remember. I was extremely motivated to work because my family was in poverty for much of my childhood and I wanted to use my tips to buy groceries for myself and my little brothers. It felt empowering to gain autonomy as a teen in this way, and fulfilling to contribute to my family during tough times. I’d often rise early on Saturday mornings after late jam sessions the night before. Read more>>
Logan St.clair
We had just released our first E.P., and within a few days we had more purchases than I thought would happen. Nothing crazy, no life changing sales. But the fact that people enjoyed what we had made, that people wanted to spend their money on our art was a great feeling. It was validating. It was reassuring to me that I was doing something worth doing. I wasn’t just making noise in my garage anymore, we had created something that resonated with people. It was pretty sweet. Read more>>