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Louis CK inspires Jim Gaffigan to sell comedy special for $5 online

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Re: Louis CK inspires Jim Gaffigan to sell comedy special for $5 online

#41

Post by jordanlev »

AgentConundrum wrote: post #18
jlack wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But even if he is riding the coat-tails of Louis CK, isn't it still a good thing that more people are starting to provide direct content for very reasonable prices?

It is, but if Gaffigan squanders the marketing potential of this, then it will have a serious impact on how much money his special brings in. Since this is only the second time a (well known, mainstream) comedian has tried this, a failure or even just a poorer-than-expected showing could make a lot of other entertainers write Louis CK off as being a one-time thing. They'll assume he succeeded as a novelty and will be…

But if nobody finds out about the special and he doesn't make money, wouldn't that also mean people don't know about the failure?

Re: Louis CK inspires Jim Gaffigan to sell comedy special for $5 online

#42

Post by tptacek »

patio11 wrote: post #38
staunch wrote: post #34

Louis CK paid like $30k to setup his site for streaming his special. Gaffigan will probably pay some similarly absurd amount. What HNer is going to setup the simple solution for all the comedians that want to copy Louis CK but don't want to figure it out and spend $30k? Transcoding + S3 + Stripe + Reporting dashboard + handholding with a flat 5%-20% fee or something. It could even be an iTunes-like competitor. Web-ba…

Design: $2k, coding: $5k, convincing Louis CK to use you over everyone else in the world for the most important moment of his career to date: $23k. And honestly, given the results, they undercharged.

Just because it snags my overliteral nerd brain: this wasn't the most important moment of Louis CK's career. Louis CK is a giant of modern standup comedy.

Re: Louis CK inspires Jim Gaffigan to sell comedy special for $5 online

#43

Post by roc »

jwblackwell wrote: post #2

Currently, there is a huge incentive for performers and artists to follow this route of distributing their content. It is still seen as novel and championed by fans, resulting in increased exposure that wouldn't of happened if they would of chosen a normal route for selling their products. Don't get me wrong, it's good to see this stuff happening but I think the more we see of it the less effective it will be for the…

There simply aren't enough artists with the resources to do what Louis CK has done and Gaffigan is about to do. So it's almost tautological that it can't take off for lesser-known acts until some digital-publishing middle-men spring up to simplify and streamline the process of going from "I have a 60 minute comedy act" to "I have a $5 special on somesite.com".

And any digital publisher worth their domain name is going to offer promotional services.

Re: Louis CK inspires Jim Gaffigan to sell comedy special for $5 online

#44

Post by roc »

staunch wrote: post #34

Louis CK paid like $30k to setup his site for streaming his special. Gaffigan will probably pay some similarly absurd amount. What HNer is going to setup the simple solution for all the comedians that want to copy Louis CK but don't want to figure it out and spend $30k? Transcoding + S3 + Stripe + Reporting dashboard + handholding with a flat 5%-20% fee or something. It could even be an iTunes-like competitor. Web-ba…

Compared to what a comedian would pay for venue, cameras, producing, directing and editing, the slack between what Louis paid and could have paid for his site and streaming setup is probably the least of their concerns.

That it worked and held up under load is probably going to keep them from even asking if it could have been cheaper.

Re: Louis CK inspires Jim Gaffigan to sell comedy special for $5 online

#45

Post by vibrunazo »

tejaswiy wrote: post #37
staunch wrote: post #34

Louis CK paid like $30k to setup his site for streaming his special. Gaffigan will probably pay some similarly absurd amount. What HNer is going to setup the simple solution for all the comedians that want to copy Louis CK but don't want to figure it out and spend $30k? Transcoding + S3 + Stripe + Reporting dashboard + handholding with a flat 5%-20% fee or something. It could even be an iTunes-like competitor. Web-ba…

Isn't this something that gumroad does? ( https://gumroad.com/ )

That looks almost good. Unfortunately it seems they only accepts direct credit card payment. Many users wouldn't trust them.

Integrate with PayPal or Google Checkout and it could be huge.

Re: Louis CK inspires Jim Gaffigan to sell comedy special for $5 online

#46

Post by AgentConundrum »

jordanlev wrote: post #41
AgentConundrum wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is, but if Gaffigan squanders the marketing potential of this, then it will have a serious impact on how much money his special brings in. Since this is only the second time a (well known, mainstream) comedian has tried this, a failure or even just a poorer-than-expected showing could make a lot of other entertainers write Louis CK off as being a one-time thing. They'll assume he succeeded as a novelty and will be…

But if nobody finds out about the special and he doesn't make money, wouldn't that also mean people don't know about the failure?

No, because we're talking about two different groups.

Just because the general public doesn't know of the special, and therefore doesn't know of it's failure, other entertainers will. It's their job - the business side of their job - to keep up to date with these sorts of things.

Re: Louis CK inspires Jim Gaffigan to sell comedy special for $5 online

#47

Post by staunch »

roc wrote: post #44
staunch wrote: post #34

Louis CK paid like $30k to setup his site for streaming his special. Gaffigan will probably pay some similarly absurd amount. What HNer is going to setup the simple solution for all the comedians that want to copy Louis CK but don't want to figure it out and spend $30k? Transcoding + S3 + Stripe + Reporting dashboard + handholding with a flat 5%-20% fee or something. It could even be an iTunes-like competitor. Web-ba…

Compared to what a comedian would pay for venue, cameras, producing, directing and editing, the slack between what Louis paid and could have paid for his site and streaming setup is probably the least of their concerns. That it worked and held up under load is probably going to keep them from even asking if it could have been cheaper.

It's not just the money. It's finding a web development company, meeting with them multiple times, risking $30k (which is not chump change even to him), and waiting for the site to be developed, giving feedback, etc.

They used PayPal + S3 to do Louis CK's site. This kind of thing isn't very technically challenging anymore with the infrastructure that's available now.

Re: Louis CK inspires Jim Gaffigan to sell comedy special for $5 online

#48

Post by jbenz »

tejaswiy wrote: post #37
staunch wrote: post #34

Louis CK paid like $30k to setup his site for streaming his special. Gaffigan will probably pay some similarly absurd amount. What HNer is going to setup the simple solution for all the comedians that want to copy Louis CK but don't want to figure it out and spend $30k? Transcoding + S3 + Stripe + Reporting dashboard + handholding with a flat 5%-20% fee or something. It could even be an iTunes-like competitor. Web-ba…

Isn't this something that gumroad does? ( https://gumroad.com/ )

Pulley from Big Cartel let's you sell downloadable files as well. (http://pulleyapp.com/)

Re: Louis CK inspires Jim Gaffigan to sell comedy special for $5 online

#49

Post by [deleted] »

staunch wrote: post #34

Louis CK paid like $30k to setup his site for streaming his special. Gaffigan will probably pay some similarly absurd amount. What HNer is going to setup the simple solution for all the comedians that want to copy Louis CK but don't want to figure it out and spend $30k? Transcoding + S3 + Stripe + Reporting dashboard + handholding with a flat 5%-20% fee or something. It could even be an iTunes-like competitor. Web-ba…

[deleted]

Re: Louis CK inspires Jim Gaffigan to sell comedy special for $5 online

#50

Post by roc »

staunch wrote: post #47
roc wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Compared to what a comedian would pay for venue, cameras, producing, directing and editing, the slack between what Louis paid and could have paid for his site and streaming setup is probably the least of their concerns. That it worked and held up under load is probably going to keep them from even asking if it could have been cheaper.

It's not just the money. It's finding a web development company, meeting with them multiple times, risking $30k (which is not chump change even to him), and waiting for the site to be developed, giving feedback, etc. They used PayPal + S3 to do Louis CK's site. This kind of thing isn't very technically challenging anymore with the infrastructure that's available now.

I agree that there's a huge opportunity for digital publishers in this area. I just think it's going to be a market driven by the companies that can take someone from material through polish, production, promotion and then distribution.

Just as today there do exist companies that press CDs and companies that box CDs and companies that ship CDs from one warehouse to many retailers yet the market is truly driven by those who can take an artist from material to digital master. Everyone downstream is commoditized and generally gets or loses contracts based on shmoozing rather than merit.

I'm sure there's money in being the digital equivalent of the plucky independent CD printer/boxer/shipper. But you're going to have a hell of a time getting business from people who don't have a digital master yet (and most won't), regardless of how attractive your rates may be. And in the process of those people getting a digital master - they're likely going to be steered toward the distribution services recommended by those people who helped them create and promote that master.

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