How Andrew Schulz Got Pirates To Buy His Comedy Special Infamous At $15

Comedian Andrew Schulz flipped the script on digital piracy with a YouTube shorts video titled "PIRATE MY SPECIAL" - and made more money because of it.

The full script reads like this:

"What up, guys? You can pirate my new special, Infamous, right now. I would appreciate it if you bought it at theandrewschulz.com. It stops going on sale this Sunday, all right, the 21st of August, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Uh, you could buy it there, I would really appreciate that shit, but if you're strapped for cash, pirate it. It is what it is, we understand. Everything exists on the internet and if you don't know how to figure out one of them pirating sites, I'm sure one day in the future I'll have it up on my YouTube channel, you can wait for that. I just want to say thank you guys so much for your interest. Thank you guys so much for your support. Every single one of you that bought it, thank you so f*cking much, it means the world. This has been an incredible success because you guys bought it, got the word out, and uh, I'm just so grateful. So thank you so much. theandrewschulz.com if you want to go buy."

"Pirate My Special" Short Converted Pirates Into Customers

Schultz told viewers they could steal his $15 comedy special "Infamous" instead of buying it.

The surprise result was the pirates opened up their wallets.

The comments tell the story:

1. i never paid for any entertainment EVER but i'm buying this just because of how epic he his. respect

2. veteran pirates : well now i'm gonna buy it.

3. Pirated it at first then bought it to show the homies, shit had us crying from laughter

Permission To Steal Created An Obligation To Pay

By acknowledging economic realities with statements like "if you're strapped for cash, pirate it," Schultz transformed entitlement into appreciation.

One pirate admitted: "Is it weird that Andrew telling us we can pirate it makes me want to actually pay for it?"

Gratitude Replaced Guilt In The Transaction

Instead of guilt-tripping consumers, Schultz expressed thanks: "Every single one of you that bought it, thank you so fucking much, it means the world."

Fans responded in kind: "Bought it. Bro you brought me so many laughs in life. The least I can do is pay you a dub."

Andrew Schulz understands reverse psychology. Telling people to pirate makes them actually want to buy it!

Schultz's unfiltered approach - "You could buy it there, I would really appreciate that shit, but if you're strapped for cash, pirate it" - built trust that corporate anti-piracy campaigns lack.

Limited-Time Offers Still Work With Piracy Options

Despite his piracy-friendly stance, Schultz created urgency: "It stops going on sale this Sunday, the 21st of August, 11:59 p.m."

The lesson: when given the choice between piracy and supporting creators they respect, many consumers - even lifelong pirates - will choose to pay. It just depends on the script.

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