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.
Hoang Pham
When I first started my business doing wedding videography, building a portfolio and getting bookings was a challenge. It’s something that prevented me from starting earlier and something I know others struggle with. To build my portfolio I didn’t have much but I filmed a friends wedding and gave it my all. I put everything I had into filming everything and making the best possible wedding film. After putting together the wedding film, I put it on my website and while not having much else aside from that, I just sent it to a planner who was looking for a videographer last minute for a wedding. The planner said the couple loved the film and wanted to hire me but that their budget was low so they only wanted me there for 2 hours. I went above and beyond and with their budget, spent the whole day with them and used that opportunity to make one of my favorite wedding films to this day. That video has gotten me countless bookings and kickstarted my business much farther than I could have ever imagined. They say fake it till you make it and sometimes you just need to put yourself out there and give it your best and see where that takes you. Read more>>
Jaemen Jones
I’ve always had some kind of musical influence in my life. Trumpet, drums, bass guitar, you name it; I’ve probably played it at some point in time. When I started practicing djing, it was only for fun. I never thought I would turn it into a business model, but I genuinely love music, so it made sense. In college, I started putting music out as an independent artist on TuneCore; I would make maybe a cent or two a month, nothing to brag about. I do remember the first time I was requested to DJ an event. It was for a sorority on campus. The sorority didn’t have any money, but they did agree to pay me in food, which to me (a broke college student who partied every other weekend) was perfectly fine with, and besides, I love tacos. I specifically remember one of the girls requesting ‘Sorry Not Sorry’. So I played Sorry Not Sorry by Bryson Tiller. Little context before I continue. I went to college in Portland Oregon… did not do a very good job of reading the room there. I remember scratching my head as a mixed Demi Lovatos Sorry Not Sorry into my Serato after being told I never played the song. All in all tho it was a good first event. Read more>>
Gonzalo Costa
Creating content can be fun or a hobby, but when you want to take it as your job or dedicate yourself to it, it is a risky decision. When I started on social media, I had a job on the side since I didn’t make money with social media, I only collaborated with brands. There came a time when I didn’t have enough time for both things and I had the opportunity of a clothing brand in New York that always offered me to travel and create content for them. They decided to offer me a budget and a contract to work for them and outside the image of that brand. It was a risky thing because at that time I had to choose between continuing to work 10 or 12 hours a day for a fixed salary or try it and see what the future held for me and dedicate myself 100% to this and that’s what happened. Today I have been on social media for many years with millions of followers on all my platforms and generating quite a bit of money. That story will always be with me since it was the first time they offered me money for my work on social media. Read more>>
Darious Flores
Once, during COVID my abusive ex wife kicked my out of our home and forced homelessness upon me. I didn’t argue with her. She was mad that I made polite conversation with a blonde woman with glasses at the Valero on Springdale x mlk. Even her mother told her she was with for that. I came home for my acoustic guitar, took an Uber downtown, and busked like a true Austinite. Outside of the legendary Waterloo Records, a man and his wife asked me to play “Street Spirit” by Radiohead. That is one of my favorite songs since I was an infant. I performed and they blessed me with $25. :) Read more>>
Sarah Rice
The first time I sold a piece of artwork was maybe one of the most exciting and monumental days of my life. I had been drawing quite a bit to build a nice portfolio so people could see my work and so I could have some inventory. I had lived in Portland, Oregon for a short period of time before moving to Los Angeles. LA is where I really amped up my videos on social. Once I started to post more videos of my work on Instagram, I got a message from the assistant of a prospect that was interested in my art. At this point, I was still juggling with what to price my art at. I wanted my art to be valuable and reflect the time and effort I put into it, but I was really nervous about a higher price tag. I got in touch with the person who wanted to buy a piece of my artwork and he asked me what the price would be for a three part piece. Read more>>