Bainbridge Island's own Matt Smith will pair with his close friend David Silverman to entertain, coerce, engage, inspire, inform, cajole and ultimately make you laugh. This fine duo met in the mid 1980's when both were members of the legendary Seattle Improv Troup, None of the Above. As the eighties ended, so did the troupe, and Matt and David went their separate ways, only to collaborate later as auctioneers, a partnership that many charitable organizations describe as "fruitful"!

MATT SMITH sought to become a stand-up comedian, so he enrolled in an improv class. As he describes it, he planned to try it, to fail totally, and to move on and open a fish restaurant with his brother. Not only did he achieve success, he found an entire code to live by, and he'll readily share that code with you.

In improv, Matt found elements that apply to life: How to take care of yourself and others; how to identify all the things that keep you and others from being creataive; how to move your story forward; how to move your life forward. Following the code not only allowed Matt to become funnier and more entertaining, it allowed him to engage fully and propelled him to teach improv to actors and, interestingly, to corporate staff members looking for their own code.

In addition, Matt pursued his creative endeavors writing monologues, acting in film, stage and TV. Many on Bainbridge will know his recent one-man production "My Boat to Bainbridge", and devotees of the Seattle Film Festival will have seen him this past season in the movie "Outsourced".

Learn more at www.matt-smith.net

DAVID SILVERMAN had won Seattle's first Laugh-off five years before he and Matt became friends in None of the Above. An accomplished and versatile performer, David has worked in every major Seattle venue, from the Seattle Rep to the Fifth Avenue Theater to the Seattle Opera. He has entertained people as a tap dancer, singer, actor and has performed for countless corporate groups as a mock expert.

Auctioneering takes loads of stamina, and David's comes from years of physical conditioning. An avid athlete, he has worked out for forty years. His philosophy on the mind-body connection is helpful to aspiring performers as well as to aging baby-boomers. Fit and energetic, his travels include the peaks of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu.

Outside the theater, David is a popular emcee, public speaker and versatile entertainer. His specialty—connecting with people—makes him a great addition, and a wonderful catalyst, in any gathering.