Archive for » February, 2010 «
Follow the Big Top spotlight to find AHeart4Clowning TalkRadio Show on Monday, March 15th at 10:30AM PT/12:30 CT/1:30PM ET L-I-V-E, as host Becky “CarroTop Rainbo” Cortino interviews special guest Cheryl “Tic Toc” Lekousi, exceutive director of Hearts and Noses Hospital Clown Troupe in the Boston area.
Cheryl Lekousi ‘officially’ added hospital clowning to her life in 1999, although it seems to be a bit of a family legacy. Her ‘day job’ as a playgroup teacher for preschool children in her own inclusive program was a natural fit.
Clowning for children in many Boston area hospitals led to clowning at area events for ill and disabled children such as the Special Olympics and Why Me? Kids with cancer. In 2005, Cheryl became the executive director of the newly-focused “Hearts & Noses Hospital Clown Troupe,” formerly-known as “Jeannie Lindheim’s Hospital Clown Troupe.” She added artistic director to her job description the following year.
In this Center Ring interview, Cheryl will share how she was first introduced to and drawn into Caring Clowning, her ‘work,’ and the 4 areas “Hearts and Noses” now concentrate their efforts on, after the group’s recent refocus. Got questions? Call-in or join the chat and text-in your questions during the show!
Catch the show streaming L-I-V-E, or catch this show after the broadcast, from the archive.
What a blessing and a privilege to enter a space few have the opportunity to even stand at the doorway peering inward! That is what it is like for a hospital clown or family entertainer in the healthcare venue. Often, the patients are not at their best, but they welcome us in along with our varied partners in crime, trappings and miscellaneous props. Realize — we are complete strangers, yet we are welcomed in as if we are old friends!
And so it is, and how it goes…. on most rounds. The point of our visit is to brighten a patient’s day if just for that moment in time. In doing so, through the healing humor freely and generously dispensed, it is with the hope and prayer of relieving their pain for at least a second.
Of course to be able to do this, the audience — the patient, must be willing to take in the performance. Usually, they are. We have learned that in asking if we may enter their room, we are requesting their permission first, seeking engagement and acceptance by them. In doing so, we risk being turned away, of course.
Every reaction and most welcomes are as different as the performance, group interaction, and each individual patient visited. The bottomline success realized in most visitations is mission accomplished, signified by even the smallest glimmer of a smile by the patient.
A Hospital or Caring Clown’s mission has always been to do nothing more than to cheer patients through a gentle presence as a means of taking the patient’s mind off their current health condition or painful situation.
Patients are always our primary focus during visitations.
The rule of the day in Rounds is simple is always best. If the patient is under heavy medication, he or she will not really be able to fully participate or grasp the concept of a long or intricate presentation. If a patient is able and seems a likely candidate, we perform nose transplants on the spot, with their visitors participating in the procedure. We often perform along with the visitors, drawing everyone into the act.
Sizing up the audience, including the patient’s condition and alertness, is the second rule of the day on Rounds. Analyzing the environment in the room also plays an important part in determining our performance – are there visitors? What is the mood in the room? Sometimes, our gentle presence is enough, with a smile and wave, to brighten a patient’s day. Sometimes that is all the energy they may have to take in what we can offer.
We entertain the staff at the nurse’s station and in the hallways, as schedule allows. The staff enjoys their joy-filled interlude and comedic stress-relieving moments with us.
Visitors are often treated to entertainment in the patient’s rooms, but sometimes we catch them by surprise in the hallways, waiting rooms, elevators and lobby.
How can you entertain in a place like this?
The question often comes up. In fact, it seems only natural that folks would wonder how in the world anyone could entertain — let alone “clown” in the midst of sickness, sadness, sometimes even dying. Not an unusual query at all.
Even as the seasoned hospital/caring clown that I am (13 years, at this writing), I must admit if I stop to ponder this thought long enough — it makes me consider as well. But then, I know I have been doing this for many years and seen the joy and wonderment in the faces and eyes of so many. I guess that is how I can do this type of entertaining.
However, performing in the hospital does require special training. By their very nature, pediatrics, cancer wards and also hospice settings require extra preparation for entertainers. Many special situations and particular needs take entertaining in these venues well out of the norm or mainstream of performing even as compared to other healthcare settings.
Clowns who perform for patients usually agree the experience is humbling. The audience is not at their best, yet they usually welcome us in and thank us for our presence in the sweetest of ways. Our meager performances – no matter how grand, are dwarfed by the incredible strength and courage we appear in the face of, room after room, patient-by-patient. Sometimes the patients join in the celebration, sometimes quietly or just casually observing. I have even seen a patient or two take in our performance with all the energy they could muster — with eyes closed. They were there — right there with us, all along, I assure you.
The truth is, this kind of performing is very serious business. Hospital/caring clowns and healthcare entertainers may appear to be colorful and full of light, but a gentleness must pervade their spirits, as they wait and watch their audience watching them, adjusting, tweaking and fine-tuning their performance accordingly.
Similar to street performances, each presentation is always a little bit different even from the last, according to the audience, based on the patient’s interaction, as observed by the entertainer. Training and preparation help an entertainer to know what signs to look for, as cues to a patient’s ability to take in more of a show or if it’s time to pack it in and bid them adieu.
I often joke that I play best before a ‘captive audience’ – meaning one that can’t get away. Truthfully, I prefer entertaining in the healthcare setting for all of the intrinsic nuances and needs. The one-on-one performance behind the world’s smallest mask (clown nose) is my stage and my greatest Joy.
So when asked how in the world could I perform in a place like that — I answer, how could I not?
Clowns exist to entertain, and in doing so, freely offer joy-filled wonder and exploration to discover the possibilities that exist amongst all of us.
What a blessing and a privilege for hospital clowns or caring clowns to do the important work we get to do. It may be to share only a brief moment… a light-hearted exchange, sometimes merely sharing a quiet presence offered as a means to break the monotony, or a peace-full interruption of unceasing pain for a patient.
Hospital clowns and caring clowns take their funny biz very seriously, as they spread contagious laughter, cheer, mirth and merriment wherever the meandering path may lead. As they cheer the patients, visitors and staff, hospital clowns not only do the important work of sharing healing humor, but also make friends and memories with children of all ages, all along their merry way!
Special moments leave heartprints long after the event. As for clowns on rounds, many experiences leave indelible prints on their collective clown hearts. Countless memorable moments happen during hospital visitations. The patients, visitors and staff often share how much they enjoyed the performance. Even when a patient is unable to express appreciation in a way that might be discernable by most, we get the message – from their heart to ours.
We feel immeasurably blessed.
Join us in Center Ring for this month’s AHeart4Clowning TalkRadio Show, as we spotlight one of the most versatile and all-round highly experienced Hospital or Caring Clowns you might be fortunate to get your funny bone tickled by!
Follow the Big Top spotlight to find AHeart4Clowning TalkRadio Show on Thursday, February 11th at 10AM PT/ Noon CT/1PM ET L-I-V-E, as host Becky “CarroTop Rainbo” Cortino interviews very special guest Kathy “Huggles” McLaughlin, Hospital/Caring Clown extraordinaire:
A clown since 1974 and actively performing in many venues, Kathy “Huggles” McLaughlin’s love is Caring Clowning. “Huggles” is a hospital clown entertainer frequently appearing in the healthcare venue for the last 12 years, and currently performing in 5 different hospitals. Kathy also lectures and teaches on the subject throughout the US, Canada, and at Clown Camp Wisconsin. “Huggles” joy-filled journey has also taken her to perform in Russia, Japan, Scotland, Mexico, Guatemala and a few other countries to visit children in hospitals and orphanages.
In this fun interview, Kathy shares her experiences and memorable clown adventures over these many years, and insights into what it takes to be a Hospital or Caring Clown. Got questions? Call-in or join the chat and text-in your questions during the show! Catch the show streaming L-I-V-E, or catch this show after the broadcast, from the archive.