Louis's ticket gambit pays off

Louis CK’s decision to sell tickets to his stand-up tour directly to fans is paying off – taking $100,000 every hour.

After almost two days on sale, the US comic has sold 100,000 tickets for his forthcoming 39-city tour, worth a total $4.5 million.

He is selling tickets only on his website – bypassing companies like Ticketmaster and their service costs – after his similar gambit to release a stand-up video direct to fans

After announcing the sales figures on Twitter, he tweeted: ‘I guess it was a good idea.’

Tickets for his upcoming tour will sell at its face value of $45, and says he will rigorously enforce a ban on anyone reselling them for more than that.

He says the price is cheaper than anyone's paid to see him in two years, and half the cost of most tickets from last year.

When he launched the scheme he said not every venue he wanted to play would comply with his demands, so he had to choose smaller theatres. But he added: ‘But I like doing more shows and… I still make a whole lot more than my grandfather who taught math and raised chickens in Michigan

Louis CK previously sold downloads to his special Live at the Beacon for $5, with no restrictions on copying it other than his fans’ sense of fair play, which took more than $1 million in 12 days. That model has now been widely copied by other comedians.

Published: 28 Jun 2012