The Round Table, Leicester Square

A reality check: If you pay three or four pounds for a comedy night, it isn't going to be a purpose built-venue with professional comedians. It's going to be the back room of a pub, featuring mainly very new acts learning their stuff. Some of these will be crap. A very few will be future stars of comedy - everyone started on the 'open mic' circuit. Most will be alright. Very, very occasionaly you'll see a famous comedian come down to try out new material.

The capacity of these rooms is generally very small. I doubt the room at The Round Table could fit many more than about twenty people in. At 3-4 pounds a head, this hardly leaves much room for profiteering. Nor does it leave much money to pay flyerers. Many open mic nights ask new acts to flyer in exchange for a slot, though some do pay flyerers as well.

If you want slick professionals delivering seasoned gags in a spacious venue, I suggest you get your wallet out and got to Jongleurs.

10 Feb 2006 14:00