Archive for » December, 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…