Archive for » September 23rd, 2009«
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!
