In the beginning...

Sir Laffsalot (Robert Smith), was born to a very silly woman in Brooklyn, NY , sometime in the last century. She saw his cute, wrinkled little face with the baby fuzz he had that looked like side burns, and she said “It looks like a monkey!”. And then she laughed until it hurt. “I hope it really hurt, mom.”

The baby fuzz wore off. The laughing never did.

Growing up in a fun loving family helped a  lot, ( He thinks it was actually an early reality/sit-com proto-type pilot being refined by aliens). Growing up in New York City with it’s rich patchwork of cultural humor built on that foundation. Add his studies in acting, dance and comedy improv at HB Studios in Manhattan, stand-up and improv training on both coasts, and you have a recipe for serious silliness.

Robert went on to write songs, sing in bands, act on stage, film and video, and perform comedy improv - all on both coasts. Yes, he is unabashedly bi-coastal. As a playwright, he authored and produced Pleasant Valley Television. He’s also produced plays both independently and with arts organizations.

Robert’s lifelong interest in self realization and his love of comedy improv led to his insights connecting the two. “What’s funnier than life?”, he asks.

“Zen = being one with life = a balanced and successful life.  Zen and comedy improv both require you to be present, open, alert and supporting what is happening in the moment. Comedy improv is a great fun way to learn and develop these skills, which contribute to greater aliveness and success in life.” From Robert’s upcoming book, Zen and the art of Comedy Improv.

He is currently teaching his Zen and the Art of Comedy Improv workshops at the Center for the Arts in Grass Valley, California.

He is also working on his book Zen and the Art of Comedy Improv, which is scheduled to be published in 2008.

The same principals that Robert writes about in Zen and the Art of Comedy Improv are very effective in getting teams of people to work together optimally, enhancing cooperation, developing creativity and fostering an atmosphere conducive to success. See Group Work for more information on his corporate and organizational training and speaking engagements.

Robert has always believed that laughter is the best medicine. He is a certified Laughter Yoga Leader and leads Laughter Yoga sessions at the Laughter Yoga Club of Nevada County meetings. For more info and schedules click here on Laughter Yoga.

Robert is also an artist with wood. His functional art, custom furniture and award winning woodwork and designs can be found at www.finedesigninwood.com