Archive for » 2009 «
Miles of Smiles: Becky Cortino
Having been performing before mostly captive audiences since 1997 in the healthcare setting, I have often enjoyed connecting with like-minded others involved in grassroots organizations. Our facilities differ, but one thing I have learned is our concerns and focus are very similar. There is much to learn and share!
Just prior to writing my first book on establishing a hospital clown or family entertainer group, I met many clowns and family entertainers who expressed their heartfelt desire to do what I am fortunate to get to do every month — cheer patients! This fueled my drive to get that book written, to help others set up a group in their hospital or area.
After I finished writing the first book, my mission became clear and is very simple: I want to help further clown arts and humor programs in hospitals and healthcare settings globally. Together, we are doing that – but I strive to encourage it on a much broader scale than what we are currently doing.
How to do this? In 2008, I established 2 active groups on Facebook and am building community in our specialty. Now, I am also asking for a bit of help — but just a little bit 
Please take our short Hospital Clown/Healthcare Performer Survey to tell us what you think, and about what you do at your facility. All respondents remain anonymous and no personal information is required to participate.
Here is the link for our short survey: Click this link here for the survey
As most folks in this venue, I am a volunteer. I am not paid for hospital visitations or performances I have freely given since 1997, nor am I salaried to coordinate, or for any ongoing training I have provided the hospital group I’ve been honored to serve as coordinator for since 2003. I do not have a trunkload of supplies and gadgets to sell you. No fees are collected to maintain this site or any related community groups – so know I am fully-vested in my global mission.
As part of building community, I would like to know what you think and more about the kind of work you do. Your input is important and your thoughts are appreciated — I know you are as driven by your passion, as I am!
Click this link here for our short survey
Tell us what you think… what you do at your facility…
If you have a question, a referral or need help in your area, please use the Contact Form and drop me a note. I look forward to hearing from you!
Thank you for your thoughts 
Hospital Humor Programs Prepare for Flu Season:
Tighter Controls, Focus on Hygiene and Best Practices
Visitation policies and more stringent procedures have been established, and are now observed at many healthcare facilities in preparation for the flu season. The policies apply not just for the staff, but for volunteers as well.
Hospital clowns and healthcare family entertainers should adhere to “Best Practices” related to hygiene and patient-visitor-staff contact in any season. This is a huge issue in the healthcare setting, and must be taken very seriously, observing “Best Practices” throughout visitations.
In selecting props and sight gag items to bring on Rounds, do NOT bring an item that:
- has a part that is loose or detachable
- could come apart and drop on the floor
- has the potentiality of dropping on the floor in your performance or during the presentation
- has unattached parts or pieces that could fall on the floor at any time
- Juggling paraphernalia: scarves, balls, and rings notoriously drop on the floor often, even by an experienced juggler
Bring items that:
- Can be easily carried, stowed safely away between uses (in pockets, etc.)
- Are simple to manipulate in performance routines
- Won’t fall on the floor all throughout the hospital, during or after performance
Hospitals are very serious about “Best Practices” in the healthcare setting. Be advised there is likely zero tolerance for not following “Best Practices” at all times on Clown Rounds. Not observing the procedures and following appropriate guidelines might cause an offending performer or group to be banned from a healthcare facility.
Consult with your hosting facility for more information on hygiene and facility policies if you are unsure of them.
Additional training on “Best Practices” and more is available through a new online A Heart 4 Clowning Mentoring-Training Program, based on my experience as the coordinator and training director for one of the oldest all-volunteer hospital clown groups, since 2003.
For information on Private Member-Only Online Mentoring-Training program for Hospital Clowns, Caring Clowns and Healthcare Family Entertainers: click on this link, to find out more
Recently, a professional family entertainer shared with me their discomfort with changing up their act, a personal reaction to meet more stringent guidelines now in place by a hosting healthcare facility.
Change in an act requires careful examination of many elements in the performance, not the least of which includes the entertainer. Even minor revisions take time, concentration and commitment to see the fine-tuning enhances, rather than adding unnecessary clutter, or possibly removing a key ingredient.
It is a well-known fact that people resist change every day, in every way. Artistic license and creativity are two areas to be respected. Based upon these two irrefutable truths, the professional family entertainer’s reaction is understandable, but gives others pause to wonder what the focus of their performance is — on the entertainer, or for the audience?
By the fact that family performers exist to entertain, it would seem no matter how talented, no performance occurs without the audience. Otherwise, they are merely practicing.
The purpose for hospital visitations, Clown Rounds or healthcare visits is not to “put on a show.” It is to relieve the pain, stress, loneliness or suffering experienced by the patient – the intended ’audience.’ If a “show” is presented, no real connection is made. Thus the ‘audience’ is really a mere spectator, not drawn into the the joy and wonder of the moment, away from their condition or situation.
Perhaps it is that playing with the audience, rather than to the audience is more difficult for some. Maybe performing a practiced routine to receive applause and admiration from all for incredible feats of skill are really what is being sought. Most new entertainers are robotic in their performances, being careful not to “lose their place” in a well-rehearsed act. The presence of any of these possible tendencies calls for an in-depth personal examination as to purpose and focus of an entertainer’s performance.
Hospital clowning is known to be one of the most highly-regulated clowning specialties, due to the protocols, procedures and mandated training. It defies logic to think it should be otherwise, risking life and limb, and spreading disease rather than laughter and cheer. Ignoring policies and best practices is a sure way to be banned from entertaining in any hospital or healthcare facility.
As hospital clowns, caring clowns and healthcare family entertainers, we must do our important work within the guidelines and procedures presented. Health conditions and new developments in the field give rise to the opportunity of developing personally, and in performance in new, exciting ways. This provides an ever-changing framework to further develop professionally.
While the voiced concern of one professional family entertainer is understood, the ability of ‘thinking outside the box’ has been an ever-present element in the type of performances we do.
How are you retooling your performance to meet any new healthcare guidelines or protocols? Please let us know, by leaving a comment…
As a precautionary measure to combat the spread of H1N1 (also known as the Swine Flu), new policies and procedures are being put into place in healthcare facilities worldwide.
This has impacted hospital visitations for those in the Applied Humor Therapy venue:
- Some hospitals have banned or suspended hospital clown group visits for this season
- Some hospitals have amended visitation policies, but allowed clown visits to continue
For those who are currently not making Clown Rounds due to temporary suspension of these visits, it is difficult to have to sit on the sidelines for an unknown period of time.
However, this bit of extra time and space gives hospital clowns and healthcare family entertainers the opportunity to explore new dimensions and learn new skills! Some well-worn props in need of repair, or to be refreshed are waiting for attention. Maybe time and effort could now be lavished on that dream routine or must-have accoutrement waiting to be invented?
For those hospital clowns, caring clowns and healthcare family entertainers who are fortunate enough to continue their Clown Rounds, the heightened awareness of potential infection, coupled with the associated stringent institutional policies, provide new opportunities for Applied Humor Therapists to rise to a greater level of professionalism in their performances.
Finding new ways to spread laughter and cheer and not infection in their entertainment bits, fine-tuning presentation by making one-on-one time with each patient more meaningful, and staying healthy in the process are all possible, with renewed emphasis on best practices and hygiene protocol.
Either condition for the hospital clown, caring clown or healthcare family entertainer require the Applied Humor Therapist to not be swept away by the situation, but rather think outside the box — to their next step.
Such is always the case for those of us who make Clown Rounds, but this time our efforts are reframed with a new focus. This is an opportunity for increased professionalism on all counts. It is an epidemic opportunity!
How about you? Have new policies been established in your hosting healthcare facility? Have they affected your entertaining or visitations in any way? Please leave a comment and let us know…
My Mission is Simple: To help further Clown Artsand Humor Therapy programs in hospitals and healthcare settings globally. Together in the collective sense, we are doing that – but I strive to encourage it on a global basis…
Do you have a program in your area, are you interested in starting one up, or are you currently involved in a healthcare humor program? How may I help you? I have many resources available on this topic – you can find details and a Contact Form on this site.
Private Member-Only online Mentoring/Training for Hospital or Caring Clowns, Family Entertainers and Creative Arts Performers
This brand new Mentoring/Training Program is AVAILABLE Beginning OCTOBER 1, 2009!
This unique Member-Only Mentoring Training Program offers mentoring through training videos, audios and tried-and-true resource materials I have developed, written and actively use to train healthcare family entertainers and hospital clowns since 2004, all based upon my hands-on experience as a Hospital Clown and Applied Humor Therapist since 1997, in one of the oldest existing all-volunteer hospital clown/family entertainer groups.
In 8 consecutive training programs since 2004, I have trained 220 hospital clowns and healthcare family entertainers in service at other healthcare facilities as well as my own group’s site, and those performing in other states and regions.
This unique Mentoring Training Program is presented for all levels of experience.
As a Member, this program is available to be viewed and listened to any time, allowing you the benefit of attending sessions on your own schedule from the comfort of your own computer for the length of your membership!
Your membership is for an entire year and is renewable, if you would like continued support. The membership fee includes all necessary materials and supplies, and is less than most one-time conference registrations, plus you have no travel expenses! (Less than 10-cents/day!)
MultiMedia Materials and fresh Resources are continually added to this program, in addition to the growing number of A Heart 4 Clowning series of books available for purchase, on this topic.
Save time – money – gas and benefit from this unique Member-Only Training Program!
Recently, I did a series on ”We shouldn’t leave while the patient is still enjoying us, should we?” My response to that question is based on the premise for any hospital clown or healthcare family entertainer’s reason for being in the venue — the focus should be on the audience only, one-on-one on the patient.
By watching the patient moment-to-moment, gauges how long your performance is going to be, within an allotted amount of time. However, there are so many more factors to consider. Experience comes into play (pun intended!), and helps the seasoned healthcare performer to know when to pack up the show and thank the audience.
My years of experience in hospital clowning since 1997, have fine-tuned my internal timer. No matter where I may be in the well-rehearsed performance or with the patient, when the allotted time is reached, I bid them farewell. There’s no avoiding it — just like a pop-up timer!
Still the question remains in the minds of so many: “We shouldn’t leave while the patient is still enjoying us, should we?”
I have to laugh, because I know it is asked with the purest of intentions of the heart. In a recent conversation on this topic with a very experienced clown friend whose friendship I cherish, and advice I treasure, my friend answered this so well. “Leave them always wanting more.”
Ah, truer words n’er were spoken – true Clown Wisdom from the heart!
Tricia “Pricilla Mooseburger” Manuel shares how Healing Humor literally helped a grieving father turn the corner on his grief after his son’s suicide, when she conducted kazoo band parade practice with a group of American Legion women preparing for the 100-year anniversary of Maple Lake, MN …
Healing Humor Memorable Moments in Their Own Words: This episode features family entertainer Tricia “Pricilla Mooseburger” Manuel sharing about the life-enhancing effects of Healing Humor that everybody needs. Well-known performer, beloved teacher and creative costumer of many, Tricia is a former Ringling clown and Disneyland performer.
So, the question remains, is it true – ”We shouldn’t leave while the patient is still enjoying us, should we?”
Based on the premise for any hospital clown or healthcare family entertainer’s reason for being in the venue, with the focus on the audience one-on-one on the patient, my answer is: yes.
Some gasp and are probably thinking this is the cruelest answer I could give. Really? When would you rather thank your audience who lies in such a vulnerable position, and so kindly welcomes you, the complete stranger into their room, in the midst of their sickness, suffering or painful condition?
Based upon my experience since performing regularly in this realm, I would rather leave my audience happy and smiling — my goal — than worn out and grimacing with pain. Conditions can quickly change while you are in the midst of your performance or act, and you must be attuned to that situation second-by-second.
I would rather leave my special audience with happy memories of our time together, and a joyful experience, in the midst of the monotony and possible anxiety-ridden atmosphere that existed just prior to my entering their room.
I would rather entertain with my audience one-on-one, on the world’s smallest stage in a world debut of a one-time-only performance, never ever to be repeated again — and leave that as a special heart-memory for them.
My intention would be to entertain them with the tightest act possible, leaving little space to let them slip back to where they were before I arrived, and to quickly depart when I felt my time was up on that stage. Wearing out one’s welcome can come all-too quickly, and most unexpectedly. Staying past one’s due sometimes causes the patient to feel worse, because they appreciate your being there, but feel they are chasing you out. We are there to help them feel better!
“We shouldn’t leave while the patient is still enjoying us, should we?” Absolutely. That is the perfect time!
Leave them with a smile on their face and a song in their heart!