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.

Eresseie

My “first real” earnings as a musician came two years ago, thanks to Fiverr. I still remember the excitement when I received my first order: I had to sing a small portion of a song. It was a simple task, but the idea of lending my voice to someone else’s project made me incredibly happy. From that moment on, more orders started coming in, and over time, the earnings became more consistent. While they’re not yet enough to fully sustain me, every small step forward gives me confidence and motivates me to keep going. It was the first chapter of a journey I hope will grow even bigger. Read more>>

Elijah Glasper

It was my second year of high school and only my second year of formal art classes. As winter break approached, my teacher handed out a project: create a master copy of a travel poster of my choice. After browsing for a while, I stumbled upon a New Orleans travel poster online. The moment I saw it, I knew it was the one. The design was stunning, with a harmonious blend of orange, yellow, and purple that caught my eye. At the top, the words “New Orleans: The Big Easy” were elegantly presented in a stylish typeface. The background featured a beautifully detailed castle, and in the foreground, three jazz musicians were frozen in motion, confetti scattered across the entire composition, adding a festive energy to the piece. Read more>>

Matt Clarke

This is the story of my first ever successful grant application: I had been fortunate to break even just through ticket sales during the first five years running my little non-profit theatre company. Sometimes we even made a hundred dollars or so and would give the cast a few bucks in a card after closing. It was rugged DIY theatre in niche venues that allowed me and others to cut our teeth and do personal projects. For free. Read more>>