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Jim Gaffigan offering new standup special as digital download

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Feb 2012 10:51 User comments (8)

Jim Gaffigan offering new standup special as digital download Following in the commercial successful footsteps of fellow comedian Louis C.K., Jim Gaffigan will release his standup special "Jim Gaffigan: Mr. Universe" exclusively as a digital download in April.
The special will be taped later this month, and will sell for $5 via Gaffigan's website. 20 percent of each purchase will be donated to charity, as well.

Late last year, Louis C.K. decided to skip a DVD distributor and edit and release his standup special "Louis C.K.: Live at the Beacon Theater" on his own website for $5, with no DRM or other restricitions. The "experiment" was so well received that C.K. made over $1 million profit in just two weeks. The comedian donated a substantial amount to charity and gave bonuses to everyone in his team as a show of appreciation.

Gaffigan credited C.K. for the idea, and added some humor, as well: "If no one buys the special or if lots of people steal it then I suppose I will lose a lot of money and have egg on my face. But then again, I have four kids, so I am always losing money and usually have egg or some kind of food on my face so it might just feel normal."

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8 user comments

115.2.2012 23:38

Glad to see others following in the footsteps of Louis CK after his success. It was well worth the money and I'm sure Jim's will be too. Hopefully, Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, Brian Regan will also follow the lead and it'll become a trend in the entertainment industry.

215.2.2012 23:57

I love his stand-up comedy. I hope this works just as well for him as it did for C.K. :)

316.2.2012 10:19

we need to support this kind of direction if artist being comics or singers started selling to their fan base directly maybe the riaa and orthers would just fade away...

416.2.2012 12:51

Thank god (or your deity of choice) some of these artists are figuring it out! Bypass all the 'something for nothings' & reap your rewards. THIS is the very thing that the alphabet Nazis want control folks.

Mark my words. It's the newest territory for legislation & it's what they are going to make their next billions at; supposedly defending the content these folks are putting on the web.

Not to mention, isn't it nice to see that the real artists give back to their crew when 'they' get their due? Kind of make's you wonder what the 'machine' does to people once they get into the business. God forbid this would be the new face of greed.

516.2.2012 13:42

It is really nice to see a second person in this type of interaction with fans. I think with the avalibilty of good software and hardware, we will see a trend of smaller production crews pop up and offer nice editing of a live show.

616.2.2012 15:14

+LR Agreed, but also, if this kind of thing catches on start looking for legislation that attacks this kind of publishing.
I'm guessing it will be an attack on taxes.
They're not distributing it the old way so the taxes are less or even non-existent so there will be a call for taxing this stuff or some such bullshiat.

On another note. These guys like to say how doing things like this might make it "easier" to steal.
I would just like to point out that it is neither easier, nor more likely. ANYTHING that is put out is already "easy" to rip/pirate. Distribution is in no way, "easier" to pirate. It is already easy.
This method is easier to get legitimately. That's why it works.


716.2.2012 17:31

Originally posted by ThePastor:
I would just like to point out that it is neither easier, nor more likely. ANYTHING that is put out is already "easy" to rip/pirate. Distribution is in no way, "easier" to pirate. It is already easy.
This method is easier to get legitimately. That's why it works.
I agree all the way. Easier & cheaper will keep the casual thief at bay more often than not. Obviously we can't stop them all, but like my grandpa used to say about the guy that ripped him off, "I really do hope the son of a bitch needed it more than me."

817.2.2012 14:55

I'll support this effort.

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