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.

Rebekah Foster

The first dollar I ever received was from a show I played at a winery, called Knob Hall. My brother was working for the company at the time, so he put in a good word for me. I was only 16 or 17 years old when I got the offer. I remember being so incredibly honored, excited and nervous all at the same time. “Do I have what it takes to put on a good show? Would people come out? How am I even supposed to act onstage?” These were the types of questions swirling through my head. Read more>>

The summer before I started college, I was making these quirky button earrings — think chandelier-style with buttons of every color. Mind you, I never had any plans to sell them. It was just a creative outlet, and I thought they made for fun, unique baubles I couldn’t find in stores. But to my surprise, when I started college that fall, many of my new friends would ask me to make them a pair. So, I started making them for people I knew, and then, quite remarkably, I was making my little button earrings for stores around town! I will never forget getting my first real order — 27 pairs (I still remember the number) — and I ended up staying up all night trying to complete the order! Looking back, I do think that first foray in running a small (very!) business gave me a real taste for it, and however far it is from what I do now, the button earrings were absolutely pivotal in getting me started. Read more>>

Hope Levy

The first actual dollar I earned was recording a 45 record “Hope and Her Friends”, and I believe I made 100.00 back in 1974 which for a 7 year old who loved to sing was a lot of money! Read more>>