Earning that first dollar is incredibly special and a moment many never forget. We asked some very talented creatives from the community to tell u s the story of the first dollar they earned from their creative works.
Yugs
The first dollar I made as a creative was making a beat for my good friend and collaborator Jon Rubio for our song “Swerving”! I had met Jon at the Hi-Dive in Denver during one of his shows for the popular local Chicano Funk band Los Mocochetes. I offered to come and do a producing session with him. I came to his house and came up with a beat on the spot, and the rest is history – we’ve put out 4 songs together, including 2 on my sophomore album, “Nostalgia Ascending”. Read more>>
Courtney & Stacey Moeslein
Our first dollar as creatives came from freelance work with a sizeable multi-platform publication. We created a few fun recipes, including Cool Whip Cookies. The experience allowed us to grow as recipe developers and food photographers. Read more>>
Pxncho
The first dollar I earned as a creative a beat that I sold for $20. Nowadays, I tell producers to charge what they really think they are worth. In my case, that $20 beat was the beginning to my whole career as a producer and DJ. That beat was received well by the community in San Diego, Oside Lenz is the artist who bought it. From that beat, he introduced me to another rapper, Nemy. Read more>>
Yuka Ikebuchi
Until my youngest child left home for college in 2013, I was busy as a stay at home Mom. Prior to that, my work as an art therapist revolved around people in various needs at hospitals, a nursing home, and a community residential facility. Read more>>
Imani Rhema
I started performing poetry at local open mics in 2006. As time went on, I started my own open mic event, the Soul Food Poetry Cafe, mostly to provide a comfortable and welcoming space for performers. The first night, February 2, 2007, we opened with a modest crowd of about 30 people. Since we charged $5 for entry, we really didn’t make money that night, or the shows thereafter. Read more>>
Danny Jones
My first dollar ever earned as an artist/creative? That’s a tough one as our memories don’t serve us as well the older we get. Not positive it was the first one but definitely one of the first. Backstory first… This would be my senior year in high school where seniors had the option to take a ‘trade’ class through a program called R.O.P. Read more>>
Renata Aryanti
It was my very first art show in my local art center during a holiday event. Given the lack of formal art training, I was full of imposter syndrome. All I did up to this point was watching a lot of instructional videos, reading books, and doing many experiments myself. I remember a couple came to see my work. They browsed my prints, and the guy looked at one of them, asking if the original painting was still available. Read more>>
Hendri
I vividly remember my first paycheck— both in music and in modeling! Because that was the point that I went from considering them both to be hobbies to looking at them as legitimate career options. Read more>>
Justin N. Kim
When covid and lockdown happened, I started to sell my paintings during pandemic, because I needed a source of income. Prior to lockdown, I kept painting before and after work. But being a full time art handler, my schedule was unpredictable and often painting progress made any dent, but I kept going. Read more>>
Erbert Chong
Across the various stages of my creative journey, each “first dollar” earned has its own story. A common thread, however, ties all these tales together – the pieces crafted by my own hands always bring the most satisfaction, and as it turns out, are often the most well-received. Read more>>
Alma Roberts
I began painting late in life and with no formal training. I painted feverishly every single day with great joy and passion for the work I was creating. It was all new. I was in the dark about mixing colors, surfaces to paint on, mediums to use to create texture, everything was coming from a very rudimentary place. Read more>>