Last night I downloaded the new live show from comedian Louis CK. It's very good. The whole project is self produced. The film is DRM-free and cost just $5. Amazing. It's great to see an performer breaking away from traditional distribution models. Trying something new. Mucking about with his content.
As a comedian there's something about the tone of Louis that I love. You could easily see yourself having a chat with him over a pint in your local. I've had a lot of conversations recently about how hard it is to get the right tone for your platform of choice. It took Ira Glass more than 8 years to find his voice for radio. Some people are still trying to master their telephone voice. So it's not surprising that organisations struggle to know how to speak using new platforms. Louis seems to have nailed it with his journey into digital downloads. This kinda made me want to tell the world to download it too.
To those who might wish to “torrent” this video: look, I don’t really get the whole “torrent” thing. I don’t know enough about it to judge either way. But I’d just like you to consider this: I made this video extremely easy to use against well-informed advice. I was told that it would be easier to torrent the way I made it, but I chose to do it this way anyway, because I want it to be easy for people to watch and enjoy this video in any way they want without “corporate” restrictions.
Please bear in mind that I am not a company or a corporation. I’m just some guy. I paid for the production and posting of this video with my own money. I would like to be able to post more material to the fans in this way, which makes it cheaper for the buyer and more pleasant for me. So, please help me keep this being a good idea. I can’t stop you from torrenting; all I can do is politely ask you to pay your five little dollars, enjoy the video, and let other people find it in the same way.
Love the line 'Please help me keep this being a good idea'. I admire his honesty and uncertainty and hope that he manages to retain that tone when his good idea becomes a much bigger idea.
Good write up man, the first of which has made me want to go and download the video.. :)
Posted by: James Whatley | December 23, 2011 at 10:51 AM
And it's a brilliant show. Bargain.
Posted by: Hugh Garry | December 23, 2011 at 11:43 AM
I just watched a clip - I am buying it. I too like the 'help me keep this being a good idea' So many good ideas need a little action from many to tip the balance.
Posted by: Ben Chapman | January 03, 2012 at 10:47 AM