Iain Morris (co-writer of The Inbetweeners) and "Whispering" Bob Harris both follow me on Twitter. 
(Though they might have now unfollowed me, as I haven't posted there in months.)
(*ticks "remember to shamelessly name drop on BCG" off 'To Do' list*)
I got a Tweet from David Mitchell once.
*runs away*
Mitchell smokes...? 
One again Tim's prison-lingo passes over my head. 
From the open mic gigs that I've been to in London there seem to be some good open mic nights where there's a decent audience and there are some where there seem to be just the acts, the acts friends and a couple of people who'd rather be watching the Champions League on the TV. Some acts that I've seen have been excellent, some mediocre and some atrocious.
As a new London-based act that article doesn't make for encouraging reading. 
Move to the North. Our comedy scene is BOOMING!
But in a good way.
The problem appears to be that the world and his wife have realised (1) being a comedian is a lot better than working for a living and (2) you don't have to be very funny to be a successful comedian.
Even when I was living in London at least 2/3rds of my gigs were "out-of-town", which I think was beneficial as, not only, was appearing on bills with top circuit acts (think I did gigs with John Maloney, Ricky Grover, Gary Delaney and Russell Howard, all in my first year of gigging) I also learnt how to entertain proper audiences, rather than ones made up of other open spots and their mates.
My advice to London based open spots is simple, get out of town as much as possible, get good and then come back and get on at the better London comedy gigs.
Quote: AngieBaby @ December 16 2010, 11:13 PM GMTAnyone who thinks they can pay a fiver to see top notch comedians in Piccadilly Circus deserve to have their money taken off them
Not sure about that. At previous Clown Chowder's we've had Simon Munnery, Sara Pascoe, Adam Riches, Alice Lowe and Paul Foot (although I seem to remember Paul wasn't your thing). Add to that comedians like James Acaster, Rob Becketts, Adam Larter, Sarah Campbell etc who are all young talents heading on to much bigger things. All Zone 1 gigs and when we started out we were only charging £3.
As for Piccadilly Circus, you can go to a night like 'What Am I Funny, Huh?' and on a good night see some great acts for a fiver.
Quote: David Bussell @ December 18 2010, 12:36 PM GMTAs for Piccadilly Circus, you can go to a night like 'What Am I Funny, Huh?'
This is possibly the worst name for a comedy show ever.
Quote: David Bussell @ December 18 2010, 12:36 PM GMTNot sure about that. At previous Clown Chowder's we've had Simon Munnery, Sara Pascoe, Adam Riches, Alice Lowe and Paul Foot (although I seem to remember Paul wasn't your thing).
"We"?
Do you do comedy nights Dave?
Quote: Tim Walker @ December 20 2010, 2:01 AM GMTThis is possibly the worst name for a comedy show ever.
No argument there.
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ December 20 2010, 2:07 AM GMT"We"?
Do you do comedy nights Dave?
Are you suggesting I ramp up the flagrant self promotion even further?
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ December 20 2010, 2:07 AM GMT"We"?
Do you do comedy nights Dave?
I've told you about this before!!