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.

Viridiana Marquez

It all started as being a background actor on several shows filming in Chicago. The very first shows I worked on were “Easy” and “Empire”. They were my very first experiences on big sets too. Read more>>

Rudy Moreno

First time I made money from my talent was skateboarding a contest when I was 10 .i won some money & loved it ! I love skateboarding in contest one of my favorite things to do! Read more>>

Chill, Texas!

Our first dollar earned under the name Chill Texas! was when we played the Birthday party of our good friend and local legend Zade Delgadillo. We got paid an earnest amount for our work and it was one of the best feelings we’d experienced in a long time realizing it this was the first taste of what’s to come. Read more>>

Jennifer Ramsdell

When we started ShipShapeStyles in 2018, we primarily were doing church fairs, local craft fairs, and small vendor events. When we decided to go full in as a wholesale business, we received our very first order from a marina in Rhode Island. Read more>>

Matthew Miller

I sold my first painting when I was in middle school. My first patrons were friends and teachers, and I was amazed that I could make money doing something that gave me so much joy. Read more>>

Scott Saslow

Right after I graduated with my graphic design degree, I started to peruse the job ads on LinkedIn. I came across an art director job at an agency in Miami and even though, just a few weeks out of school, I didn’t have enough experience to be a full-fledged art director, I decided to reply to the ad, mainly because it was written in such a hilarious way. Read more>>

Alvin Dang

I had learned video editing and the basics of videography through a high school elective class. This silly mistake of signing up for “Video & Web Design” changed the course of my life forever Read more>>

Letty Sanchez

The Spark of Resilience: My First Success as a Designer I took my first tentative steps into the world of fashion as an intern for a design company in Chicago. Read more>> 

Isabelle Merlo

The first dollar I earned from my work was during the pandemic. It’s very odd I know, as we can probably all remember it as a time when most of the performing arts scene was frozen. Read more>>

Chaance Barnes

When I first became a singer, I was in school as a student. I loved singing in choir and doing musical theatre. I excelled at singing and it was all that I ever wanted to do. Read more>>

Tejah Signori

Early in my career, I created comedy videos in addition to the usual hustle as a young actor. At the time, I was working at a vegan cafe in Santa Monica and met a director and his wife and we became friends. Read more>>

Richard Ingram

Well, it was a coworker Madeline who wanted to support me and like my artwork the painting was maybe 10 x 12 and it was a play on the old school RTD transit system logo. She gave me a check for $75.00 and with that I was on my way to becoming a professional artist. Read more>>

Rakesh Jha

Earning my first dollars as a creative—be it as an editor, photographer, or artist—was an exhilarating journey filled with challenges and triumphs. Read more>>

Malcolm Batten II

The first time I received an actual adult dollar from dance, was when I was 15 going on 16. I hadn’t been seriously dancing for too long, at this point. Read more>>

Thomas Juarez

The 1st dollar I made as a creative was selling my 1st mixtape I had ever recorded for ten dollars on the street to a perfect stranger. I ended up driving to Oakland California with my friend who had a brother running a professional studio. Read more>>

Abigail Lott

Technically my first dollar earned was in middle school; I got to sell little drawings to classmates and that definitely lit that entrepreneur flame in me. Read more>>

Ebonie Commey

My very first real paid job was with the city of Rockville! They had a Global Eats Fest highlighting local eateries, and I was asked to create a video displaying how to use their digital eating card for the event. Read more>>

Hannah Breshears

My first modeling job was for a bridal brand called Avery Austin! I had just turned 17 and was still in high school, attending classes virtually due to Covid. Read more>>

Chantae Cann

My first dollar earned as a creative was recording background vocals for would renown, jazz singer, Maysa Leak. I didn’t know at the time who she was, but I was quickly enlightened about her international superstar status. Read more>>