How Funny Finds its Audience

Hey honeys and hustlers,

I’d like to introduce you to the comedian who broke YouTube – Andrew Schulz. Diversifying income through strategic storytelling is a concept that Andrew Schultz has successfully implemented in his career as a comedian and content creator. By using various platforms such as podcasts, YouTube, and Netflix, he has been able to reach new audiences and generate income beyond traditional methods (aka touring). Instead of solely relying on live performances during tours, he uses his podcast, Flagrant, and YouTube channel to give his jokes new life. This allows his content to continue generating income even when he is not on stage. Andrew Schultz understands that not everyone can attend his shows in person, so by providing a platform for his jokes to live on, he can reach a wider audience and diversify his income streams.

Andrew Schultz's success in diversifying income through strategic storytelling is a testament to the power of creativity and adaptability. He is able to connect with audiences on a deeper level and showcase his versatility as a creator. By strategically repurposing content, collaborating with others, exploring different mediums (i.e. his TED Talk and Patreon), and building a brand, his approach serves as a valuable lesson for creators looking to expand their income streams and deepen their connection with their audience. A TED Talk isn’t a typical stage for comedians, but his talk was educational and heartfelt, likely helping him reach a new audience of fans. His video announcing his sold-out show at Madison Square Garden also garnered 1M views on Instagram (a little cinematic tear-jerker to start your week).

Find out how much his Patreon earns per month (I was mindblown🤯), and more in my latest video.

This newsletter community was *almost* a Patreon community. How are you building a deeper relationship with your audience?

I’ll be honest, Andrew Schultz isn’t a top 5 comedian to me (sorry not sorry). But I do think it’s a crime and a shame to leave him out of the conversation when we talk about how comedians shifted their approach to profitability using the internet. Yes, for many, Vine and Instagram (back when they only allowed 15-second max videos to be uploaded to the platform) changed the trajectory for many comedy creators. But stand-up comedians, actors who can be funny, and creators who make funny videos are 3 completely different types of people. Andrew Schulz is one of the few people who does each of these different types of comedy particularly well.

This isn’t a post looking down on short-form creators, but this is a post that demonstrates that if you can master long-form storytelling, you will have a much higher chance of excelling in mid-range and short-form styles of storytelling. Or at least, that’s my two cents.

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What I’ve been watching

Not much news to share this week, I’ve been keeping my head down with work and learning. Here are a few places I’ve been spending time on the internet.

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Lewis Howes was an incredible guest on the Think Media Podcast. He shares his approach to creating his podcast and personal brand, which is going 10 years strong. Watch it here.

//two

Greg Isenberg hosts a podcast where he brainstorms million-dollar business ideas with founders who have reached (or exceeded) the 7-figure mark in innovative ways. The co-founders of Ship 30 for 30 explored some interesting ideas in their episode.

//three

Ed Lawrence, the creator of the Film Booth YouTube channel, did a livestream on YouTube where he broke down his process for creating high-performing titles and thumbnails. If you have 45 minutes to spare and want a crash course on how he’s done this for himself and his clients, I highly recommend watching it.

P.S. I’m setting up a Kickstarter for a new film project I’m working on. Want more details? I’ll be sharing an exclusive link for y’all on Thursday. Stay tuned for all the juicy details and rewards! Share this newsletter with a friend so they don't miss out!

Please Hustle Responsibly,

🤙🏾✨

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