{"slug":"first-time","name":"First Time? (Blank Template)","url":"/templates/first-time.jpg","w":912,"h":644,"top":"","bottom":"","description":"James Franco on the gallows, calm as ever. The blank \"First Time?\" template lets you label the struggle and deliver the punchline.","keywords":"first time meme, james franco meme, ballad of buster scruggs meme, first time meme blank, noose meme, gallows meme","year":2018,"origin":"James Franco plays a cowboy about to be hanged in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018, Coen Brothers). He notices the man next to him panicking on the gallows and casually asks \"First time?\" with a calm smirk. The blank version has no text on the image, giving users full control over both the situation label and the \"First time?\" punchline. For the version with \"-First time?\" already baked in, see First Time? (Captioned). For a similarly unbothered reaction to impending doom, see This Is Fine.","format":"template","textBoxes":[{"label":"The Struggle","x":5,"y":2,"w":90,"h":15,"placeholder":"What they are going through","fontFamily":"Impact","fontColor":"#FFFFFF","strokeColor":"#000000","strokeWidth":2,"isBold":true,"isAllCaps":true,"textAlign":"center","fontSize":40,"opacity":1},{"label":"First Time?","x":5,"y":80,"w":90,"h":15,"placeholder":"FIRST TIME?","fontFamily":"Impact","fontColor":"#FFFFFF","strokeColor":"#000000","strokeWidth":2,"isBold":true,"isAllCaps":true,"textAlign":"center","fontSize":45,"opacity":1}],"alternateFormats":[{"slug":"first-time-captioned","label":"With Caption"},{"slug":"first-time-captioned-gif","label":"With Caption GIF"}],"exampleCaptions":["WHEN SOMEONE COMPLAINS ABOUT WORKING ON A SATURDAY","FIRST TIME?"],"exampleAltText":"First Time? blank meme about someone complaining about working on a Saturday","exampleRefreshDate":"2026-05-05","howToMake":["The blank First Time? template has 2 text fields: one at the top for the situation and one at the bottom for the response","Top field: describe what someone is struggling with or complaining about for the first time. Bottom field: the calm \"FIRST TIME?\" response from someone who has been through it many times","The image has no baked-in text, so you have complete control over both lines. This version works well when you want to customize the punchline beyond just \"First time?\"","Impact text with black outline pops against the dusty Western sky and Franco's linen shirt","Save your veteran wisdom as a PNG, copy it to clipboard, or share to flex your experience"],"seo":{"aliases":["First Time Blank Meme","James Franco Gallows Blank","Buster Scruggs First Time Blank","First Time No Text","James Franco Noose Blank"],"description":"James Franco stands on a gallows with a rope around his neck, squinting slightly against the sun, wearing a dusty linen shirt. His expression is impossibly calm, almost amused, like this is not his first rodeo. The blue sky and wispy clouds behind him give the scene an oddly serene quality for a man about to be hanged. No text is on the image. The rope is thick and coiled. Franco looks more relaxed than most people do at brunch.","definition":"James Franco's character from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, standing on the gallows with complete calm. The blank version provides two text fields: one for the newcomer's struggle, one for the \"First time?\" response from someone who is well past caring.","useCases":[{"category":"Workplace Veterans","examples":["WHEN SOMEONE COMPLAINS ABOUT WORKING ON A SATURDAY / FIRST TIME?","WHEN THE NEW HIRE PANICS ABOUT A DEADLINE / FIRST TIME?","WHEN A COWORKER DISCOVERS THE COFFEE MACHINE IS BROKEN / FIRST TIME?","WHEN SOMEONE SAYS \"THIS MEETING COULD HAVE BEEN AN EMAIL\" / FIRST TIME?"]},{"category":"Parenting & Family","examples":["WHEN YOUR KID SAYS THEY HATE YOU / FIRST TIME?","WHEN YOUR TODDLER THROWS FOOD ON THE FLOOR / FIRST TIME?","WHEN A NEW PARENT COMPLAINS ABOUT LACK OF SLEEP / FIRST TIME?"]},{"category":"Adulting Pain","examples":["WHEN SOMEONE GETS THEIR FIRST UTILITY BILL / FIRST TIME?","WHEN YOU REALIZE GROCERY PRICES WENT UP AGAIN / FIRST TIME?","WHEN YOUR CAR MAKES A NEW NOISE / FIRST TIME?","WHEN YOUR BACK HURTS FOR NO REASON / FIRST TIME?"]},{"category":"Tech & Gaming Frustration","examples":["WHEN SOMEONE LOSES THEIR FIRST RANKED GAME / FIRST TIME?","WHEN THE CODE WORKS LOCALLY BUT NOT IN PRODUCTION / FIRST TIME?","WHEN AN UPDATE BREAKS EVERYTHING / FIRST TIME?"]},{"category":"Heartbreak & Social Pain","examples":["WHEN YOUR FRIEND GETS LEFT ON READ / FIRST TIME?","WHEN SOMEONE GETS GHOSTED AFTER A GREAT DATE / FIRST TIME?","WHEN YOUR FAVORITE SHOW GETS CANCELED / FIRST TIME?"]}]}}