Archive for the Category »Character Development «
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The newest work published by A Heart 4 Clowning Press, is a book especially for Hospital Clowns, Healthcare Family Entertainers, Applied Humor Therapists, and SmileMakers on the topic of entertaining effectively in the healthcare setting, written by Becky Cortino.
Click here for more about: "Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting: Entertaining Effectively in the Healthcare Venue"
“I’ve written this book to encourage those in the trenches, wanting to dispense generous doses of Healing Humor through performance in the healthcare venue,” the author said.
The third book in the AHeart4Clowning series, formatting of this guide is slightly different from the others. While topically-presented, versus traditional chapters, Becky describes it as “written like a conversation, inviting the reader’s participation. It is not intended to be an exhaustive resource of entertaining bits, but rather savvy solutions and ideas for active Healing Humor performers in healthcare wanting to be more effective.”
Written from the grassroots perspective of a volunteer and coordinator of what is believed to be one of the oldest all-volunteer hospital clown/family entertainer groups, this guide is based on Becky’s hands-on experience as a Hospital Clown and Applied Humor Therapist beginning in 1997. It is the second book in the “Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting” series.
This book includes material Becky has written and presented in 10 consecutive training programs since 2004, training 245 hospital clowns and healthcare family entertainers (at this writing) in service at other healthcare facilities as well as her own group, those performing in other states, regions and countries.
Included in this inspiring guide are:
- Pointers and Tips for Entertaining in the Healthcare Setting
- Inspirations and Ideas for Putting Your Best Foot Forward
- Actionable Steps to be an Effective Healthcare Family Entertainer
- Journaling and List-keeping Section
- Special Reader BONUS Gifts ($45 Value)
For more information and to purchase: Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting: Entertaining Effectively in the Healthcare Venue guide, click this linked text (here)
Hospital/Caring Clown, Healthcare Entertainer Training is Essential
Training is really year-round for those in this ‘work’ that looks like “play.” After required training and updates, much learning is on-the-job. This actual on-the-floor-time ‘training’/experience is intensive, ongoing discovery about new situations and conditions, as well as finding new ways to entertain and delight at every turn along the merry way.
Since this time of the year brings many folks back to school, my thoughts often run to training programs and actual ‘school’ programs, teaching different skills and preparing the team to go out, meeting anything that comes their way in their meandering journey into the Great Clown Unknown.
May we never, regardless of our number of years of experience, become complacent and believe we do not need ongoing training, inspiration and support…
The following are our Top 6 Articles on Hospital Clown, Caring Clown, Healthcare Family Entertainer, Applied Humor Therapist, and SmileMaker training considerations, essentials, and ideas, along with helpful resources:
- Critical Care: Hospital Clown, Healthcare Entertainer Training is Important
- Critical Care: Purpose, Rationale, and necessity of Hospital Clown Training
- Character Clown Development from Within (Part 1)
- Character Clown Development (Part 2): 8 Tips in Selecting the Right Training Program
- 3 Tips for Adapting Material Learned at a Conference or Convention for Your Hospital Clown, Caring Clown, Healthcare Family Entertainer Groups
- Question Answered RE: Hospital Clown Certification and Paid Positions in Healthcare Clowning/Applied Humor Therapy
Resources:
Learning is a “growing” process, and as a hospital clown, caring clown or healthcare family entertainer, the learning and fun never end! There are always new things to explore and discover, skills to develop. In a previous post, I encouraged you to establish a list of personal or professional goals you would like to obtain, and possible training programs you would like to consider. This list can serve as a valuable blueprint for your character or clown development.
Here are 8 tips to help you realize your goals, by using your list:
1. Using your established list of possible training programs, line them up against your personal or professional goals in order to determine which will be the best choice. Some programs may offer more broad-based training segments to help you get a good start on a new skill or component you want to add to an existing act. If your level of proficiency is more advanced, you may benefit most from a training intensive specifically geared for your skill level
2. Realistically consider your proficiency level in the selection mix. “Proficiency” or skills are not determined by the number of training hours spent, or programs attended. Practice and actual application of what you learn in ‘real life’ figures into the equation.
3. There are always lots of training programs available, so be sure to review the possibilities that are the best “fit” for your goals and the skills you want to learn. Don’t be persuaded that you must “buy into” an ongoing series program, obtain a degree, specialty certification, or receive training only from a particular individual, in order to be considered well-trained and to reach your goals.
4. Carefully select programs and instructors, based upon your current goals. A program you may pass on this year may be the perfect component to add in next time.
5. The straight scoop is there are a lot of excellent teachers and training programs that will likely benefit you and your development — wherever you may be in that process. Having the benefit of several instructors gives you a well-rounded perspective. This provides a better understanding of many things from a variety of viewpoints, rather than from only “one school of thought” otherwise offered by a single entity or organization.
6. Remember: It’s all in the blend and the mix you choose, with focused training received from hand-selected presenters, that can serve up greater dimension in your actual performance.
7. Stay on track, with your plan in hand. Following it to reach clearly-established goals, paired with a focus to reach them, will avert burying yourself in information overload.
8. By taking actionable steps, you will more likely reach your goals, experience the success of learning new skills and greater success in moving yourself forward in your Character/Clown development.
A heart for hospital clowning includes not only a great deal of training and learning, creating a character, designing a ‘look’ or costume, hours of practice and preparation, it also includes actual in-service time on the floor of a healthcare facility.
Hospital clowning is known to be one of the most challenging disciplines, due to facility regulations and the inherent requirements of performing in the special venue. To many, the mere thought of clowning for the sick is an endearing idea. However most folks don’t have an understanding of the behind-the-scenes preparation and training that is involved to make the scene.
Sometimes individuals make their way through the maze of regulations and restrictions, pull together a costume and appear on the floor for their debut, only to discover this wasn’t their cup of tea after all. It is a sad discovery, especially for those clowning team mates and performance partners looking forward to a new addition. It is often a surprising discovery for the new clown or family entertainer, as reality hits the linoleum, so-to-speak.
Reasons for this are as varied as individuals in the world. Often there is no way to predict its occurrence:
- Attracted to the thought of performing for the sick, inspired by a family member or friend in the hospital for an extended period of time, turns out to be more of a deterrent, as they battle recurring memories.
- The performer takes their “work” that looks like play ‘home’ with them and dwells on it.
- After following all procedures and training, some folks new to this venue discover they do not have the stamina to make Clown Rounds.
- Rounds schedule seems to always conflict with other things that take priority.
- Have a unrealistically high expectation they cannot fulfill or meet, to their satisfaction.
- Create a difficult-to-replicate look or face that takes too long, or is hard to maintain.
- Has difficulty developing a presentation, or finetuning the performance skills.
These are just a few of the reasons new folks may discover greater personal challenges in making Clown Rounds in a hospital or healthcare facility. Many of them can be addressed with training, once recognized. Here are a few suggestions:
- Having a mentoring system of new performers working with experienced team members for a specified period of time.
- Allow floor time experience after initial training, so new clowns and family entertainers have a better understanding, in advance.
- Continue coaching and one-on-one training experiences throughout the year, so that questions and concerns may be addressed, and efforts may be fine-tuned.
- A feeling of support and cohesiveness through welcoming hearts, understanding and acceptance go a long way to making a new person feel welcomed, “at home” and able to take on The Great Clown Unknown.
What kind of training and preparation does your facility offer? What type of training do you believe is the most beneficial? Please share your thoughts by leaving your comment…
Developing a character, clown or family entertainer persona is an ongoing process, with many interconnected considerations. First and foremost, it must come from within. The very essence of ‘being’ must be firmly-rooted from somewhere. If not, the character is so wispy and thinly-veiled, it seems more like a tumbleweed than a believable being to have fun and share a lighter moment with, in reality.
Structure for the character and performance comes in developing skill sets, while increasing knowledge base and understanding of the medium, message and venue. This is accomplished with ongoing education through books, multimedia, programs and conferences. A broad spectrum is recommended for the greatest Big Picture View, but care should be taken so as not to become weighted down or confused by “information overload.” This condition is caused by piling on more and more great good learning, with the frequent side effect of inertia and missed opportunities.
Many sources of tremendous information abound, but a plan of action will help anyone who wants to learn more about our special work that looks like play, to grow, develop and be able to provide maximum positive impact.
Goal setting is recognized as an effective means to develop, effect change and accomplish great things. This same strategy should apply in growing, learning and further expanding a character as well as a performance.
As for new things to learn, mind-reeling possibilities are endless. Just thinking about them gives the sugar-buzz feel of a kid set loose in a candy shop! Begin making your plan by listing out the aspects or areas you would like to explore. Let your mind run freely — it is hard to contain creativity, afterall… and why would you? Resist the urge to limit yourself, thinking you could “never do” something, or it would for some reason seem “unreasonable.” In this step, you are simply brainstorming with yourself, and laying out lots of ideas to consider.
Next: Using your list