Louie helped revolutionize the way comedy is sold with his self-published "Live at the Beacon Street Theater."
He sold the special for $5 on his website louisck.com, something unheard-of at the time.
First of all, it's rare for comedians to own their own specials.
Even after they've spent months or years coming up with an hour-long set, most comics still need someone to pay for recording and publishing costs- which can easily get up into six figures.
That's usually where HBO, Comedy Central, Netflix or Epix steps in—and then they own the special. But Louie figured out, if he rented out a big enough theater and charged enough for the tickets... he'd covered the cost of filming.
Then he invested money in making his site uber-easy and dependable to sell the digital download.
And last, but not least, he asked a favor of his fans: please don't steal this.
The result was a rousing success.
While many comedians have tried—and failed—to copy Louie's model, Comedy Central has successfully reshaped their own operation in his likeness.
CC Direct now offers $5 downloads of many of the stand-up specials they produce.
Louie has also become, through his years in TV and film, a very thrifty producer. His ability to work within a budget, and hire others that can do the same, has been a key to his success at FX.
And when the network offered him twice the money if he'd entertain some notes...
...he said 'no.'
The money wasn't worth it.
"I never viewed money as being 'my money,' I always saw it as 'The money.' It's a resource. If it pools up around me then it needs to be flushed back out into the system."
Seriously, that's huge.
When his daughters are with him, he's an all-day super dad.
But when they're with their mother, Louie can commit to a project 24 hours a day.
Or, if he's got no plans, he can live the lazy, indulgent life that allows a comedian's brain to play and come up with a new bit.
He even has a favorite way to spend a day with no responsibilities: "I go to the 3D IMAX movies stoned. I put on the crazy glasses and they have this countdown where numbers come at you and envelope you and it's all blue and crystally. It's my favorite thing in life."
So what can we do in a world where dicks like Louie blow the curve for the rest of us?
Simple—work harder. Do more. Learn more.
Make friends with people who can teach you shit.
Learn how to work a video camera. Learn how to tweak the code on your site. Learn how to compress your podcast.
Learn, apply, fail, rinse, repeat.
Coming up with shennanigans in your head is fun and games.
Getting it into other peoples' heads is your job.
Accept that you're the only one who can do that.
Either that, or accept being the funniest barista at Starbucks.
His ability to work within a budget, and hire others that can do the same, has been a key to his success at FX.
"I go to the 3D IMAX movies stoned. I put on the crazy glasses and they have this countdown where numbers come at you and envelope you and it's all blue and crystally. It's my favorite thing in life."