Archive for the Category »Healthcare Entertaining «
Click here for "What is a Hospital Clown"?
This question is often asked, especially for a better understanding of the Hospital Clown’s role in the healthcare setting! Answers and some practices may vary, but the core essence remains the same.
To explain this best, AHeart4Clowning asked some friends in clowning to share their thoughts. We are pleased to present to you their insight and stories, on a special collaborative page, right here on AHeart4Clowning.com!
Armloads of Balloon Flower Bouquets of Thanks to: Deb “Giggles” Foy, Paul “Dr. Kidding, Jest Kidding” Kleinberger, Leslie “Happe” Gibson, Robin “Robbo” Burg, Cheryl “Sparkle” Oberg!
Click this link, to read: “What is a Hospital Clown“
NOTE: This is the first Special Feature in a series, part of AHeart4Clowning.com “5 Years of FAB FUN Celebration”!
Don’t miss a thing — all kinds of FUN planned throughout 2012!
You’re invited to receive our FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker e-Newsletter… by signing up to receive FREE Hospital Clown e-Newsletter (click on this link here)
AHeart4Clowning.com 2012 Planner (PDF)
As part of our 2012 5-Years of FAB FUN Celebration, we are pleased to provide our Readers with a great 2012 Planner, to help you plan your appearances, training sessions, and all other very important dates throughout this year!
We hope you will find it useful, and will enjoy.
Happy New Year!
Click here for More: Leave Smiles Behind!
Along the meandering journey of an Applied Humor Therapist, Healthcare Family Entertainer, Hospital Clown or SmileMaker, many opportunities present themselves to share laughter, cheer and provoke smiles. Sometimes, those opportunities are in disguise, incognito or difficult to recognize, but it is important to identify them and seize the moment!
Don’t take “No” for an answer — here’s why – remember a little human psychology:
- Often in our darkest moments, when we need humor the most, we are not willing to receive it, or leave no margin of space to fit it in. This is where patients may often be found.
- Sometimes folks do not know how to accept a gift –from anyone, and it’s easier to pass on it. Not in the mode to openly accept, and especially from a surprise like you…
- Facilities sometimes see the obstacles more than understanding the far-reaching benefits of establishing a Humor Program.
- You are there as an active participant in this Great Adventure — this means you are not passive. You have a role, a duty, a blessing and responsibility.
Does this mean you should force humor or a red sponge nose, onto someone?
No — never.
As a professional Hospital Clown, Healthcare Family Entertainer, Applied Humor Therapist, or SmileMaker, our actions must be totally in control at all times, gentle, leaving space for the patient to make choices and decisions in our interaction with them.
But it does mean don’t accept “No” for an answer. There’s always a way — here are some examples:
- When a patient turns away a hospital clown, we are actually empowering them. We are the only one they can say “no” to. They may not want to hurt someone’s feelings, or be in too much pain to be even thinking about that. let them know even by a wave goodbye, accompanying by a smile and a wink, that’s it’s “OK,” turn and go. A little levity lessens their pain.
- Sometimes working with the patient, staff or visitor to help prepare or “warm up the audience,” makes them far more receptive to you and your gift of entertainment or small token of FUN. Humor helps.
- We may enter a patient’s room with some FUN idea, but must remain open to allow them to write the script, as we proceed — ongoing. They are the author; you are the facilitator.
We all agree on the widely-recognized fact that Healing Humor helps lessen pain, boosts the immune system, and brightens an otherwise sterile atmosphere. How to implement a Humor Program may be the main thing in question. Every facility is entirely different, so it’s program will also be unique, and not be a mandated system that isn’t a fit. A little help, some discussion and assurances paves the way to giving it a try.
Take no prisoners, leave only smiles behind!
5 Related articles you might find helpful are listed below this blog post (click on the title of this article, if you don’t see topics listed below)…
NEWly-published book especially for Hospital Clowns, Caring Clowns, Healthcare Family Entertainers, Applied Humor Therapists and SmileMakers, about entertaining in the healthcare setting (click on this linked text): Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting: Entertaining Effectively in the Healthcare Venue
You’re invited to receive our FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker e-Newsletter… by signing up to receive FREE Hospital Clown e-Newsletter (click on this link here)
Dr. Steven Eisenberg specializes in Medical Oncology and Hematology, is a strong proponent of using music therapy and humor, as part of helping his patients…
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
If video player doesn’t work, view vid by clicking this link: Music Therapy w/Onologist Steven Eisenberg: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41743465/vp/43793404/
Dr. Eisenberg is founder of EnlightenMed, LLC: http://enlightenmed.com/
Lyrical Life: Healing through Connection, also established by Dr. Eisenberg: http://www.lyricallife.org/
Watch for upcoming interview on AHeart4Clowning TalkRadio!
>>>5 Related articles you might find helpful on Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting, are listed below this blog post (click on the title of this article, if you don’t see topics listed below)…
>>>You’re invited to receive our FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker e-Newsletter… by signing up to receive FREE Hospital Clown e-Newsletter (click on this link here)
Our AHeart4Clowning “Books and MultiMedia” page has been redesigned, to make browsing easier, with our ever-growing collection!
When you click-through the links provided on our page, you will get more details about the books, be able to make your selection, and purchase directly from our Publisher.
TIPs:
>>>When you arrive on the Publisher’s book site, be sure to note any delivery advisories (in the case of Holiday Deliveries as an example), for your planning purposes.
>>>From time to time, our Publisher also offers special promotions like: “FREE Ground Shipping” for orders (specifics vary), or offers a “Special” or Coupon CODE for a particular promotion. While on the Publisher’s book site, if you click on their logo (in upper left corner), you will be taken to the main page, where any current special promotional details are listed (as available). These special offers are random, varied, not ongoing, and not under our control — but when we have enough advance notice about them, we will let you know by sharing the information.
Thank you for your interest in our books — Happy Reading!
To see our Books and MultiMedia Programs, click this link: AHeart4Clowning “Books and MultiMedia” page
Happy ThanksLiving!
At this time of the year, grateful hearts often turn inward to reflect on the days and years past, with thankfulness for many things that have transpired in the journey that got them to the arrival point called today...
I too, am thankful for so many wonderful things, but also thankful for things that while not as I would have liked — positively paved the way, shaped, and affirmed the direction and perspective of my work. These influences trained me up in the way not to go — most likely, in the opposite direction (as inferred) — but in the right direction, for me.
Daily, I am thankful for those who provided excellent and inspiring training. For those who allowed me to do the work that I knew I was destined to do — and did — and still do. Granted there aren’t a lot of folks who fall into this category, but thankfully there are fewer who were actually not supportive.
But I am sincerely thankful for those who were persistently not supportive of this work, of my unwavering Grassroots Perspective, and heartfelt desire to freely encourage and inspire as many folks as possible to engage in this wonderful work that only looks like play, from Day One. Were it not for you, perhaps I might have otherwise stopped my quest to learn and be so much more than I was (I never stopped trying), and to share my experiences with others, to help them.
Had you not so influenced me early-on, I might not have otherwise made such a big deal about spreading the Truth that all of this is really NOT “Rocket Science.” I might not have actually gone to such great lengths, and spent tireless hours to show those who were hungry to know more.
Had you not made it all seem like it was such a big, exclusive Secret that only the real Insiders could know and do, and if I — and all the others — were lucky enough, maybe we too could share the inner sanctum with you. Maybe I could have become mesmerized with the possibility. Perhaps I then would have just waited for that day ever to come. “Waiting” would have kept me too busy, preoccupied for anything else.
Then, I probably never would have written my first book, or my second book, or my third book, or my 4 online training programs, or established Humor-Bit TV or AHeart4Clowning TalkRadio, along with maintaining a half-dozen websites about Healing Humor, reaching so many, with encouraging messages and inspiring information they need to hear and want to know. 245 hospital clowns would not have received L-I-V-E training from a caring heart. The world would be a bleaker place, without the Miles of Funny Smiles now encircling it. If I believed at all in luck, and was anxious to be inducted into your inner sanctum, probably I would be waiting, still…
Had you not stressed your rigid requirement that all things fit neatly into a One-Size-Fits-All Approach, and I totally accepted that myth as fact, I might have never have realized the truth that One Size never fits all actually needed to be amplified far and wide — and so I did just that. “One Size” never works, especially in relationships, or in effectively injecting Healing Humor in healthcare. Afterall, that’s what we exist to do…
Your teaching helped me to understand the Truths that needed to be presented, so more hearts could be touched by compassionate others; more healthcare Humor Programs could be established, and improved. That’s what it’s all about, for me. I knew it was the Right Thing to do.
So thank you, my Naysayers of Days Gone By. I appreciate the fact that you challenged me! I whole-heartedly accepted that challenge. Had you not influenced me in the ways you did, and I did not feel compelled to run with this, we would not be having this conversation today.
Because of your influence, armed with unfaltering dedication, and a very clear understanding of my purpose, we made a positive impact in this world during the last 8 years!
But wait! There’s more…
Keep the Humor Going!
Things happen — or sometimes — don’t happen, as we think they should or could, don’t they?
- A performance doesn’t always turn out as planned and rehearsed.
- A prop doesn’t work well with that schtick afterall.
- You realize mid-performance your brilliance is totally being missed.
- The patient SO needs to see you isn’t as receptive to a humor infusion as you wish they would be, for their best benefit.
- A staff member overwrought with burdens of the moment, is not able to connect in a meaningful way that would be helpful to them, especially now.
If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you no doubt have read about the importance of improvising along the way, and these are just a few hand-picked examples of why that is the case.
Everything we do as an entertainer in the healthcare setting involves others, so therein lies but one inherent challenge in effectively injecting Healing Humor in the hospital or healthcare venue.
Such is the nature of the ‘work’ we do that looks like “play.” No one ever said it would be easy, but hopefully whoever trained you prepared you for potential challenges that lie in your meandering mirthful journey as a hospital clown or healthcare family entertainer in The Great Clown Unknown. Usually it sure is FUN, even if things don’t turn out as you thought they would, isn’t it?!
Maybe in part that’s the serendipitous essence of applied humor therapy as a hospital clown, caring clown, healthcare family entertainer, applied humor therapist or smilemaker… and it’s all in how you roll with it, like life…
However, sometimes things happen as you never dreamed, expected, or an occurrence shakes you literally to your core. What to do about that?
Realize unexpected occurrences do happen to all of us, at one time or another. Due to the fact that our work is directly people-centric, each of us faces a new situation with unique variables every time we set foot into the next patient’s room.
What to do about an event or situation that just blindsides you? Don’t keep it to yourself. As soon as it is possible following your visitation, share the experience with someone within your organization. Do not discuss the matter with others outside your healthcare humor group who are not involved, or in a way that potentially risks a patient’s privacy.
A ‘debriefing’ session should be held after every single visitation, to help team members process the events and situations they encountered on that particular visit. This is one of the most difficult issues facing a solo-entertainer, but it not an impossible situation to manage. Arrangements should be made to connect with your coordinator, staff or designated facility contact to discuss the visitation, including any unforeseen events and their results.
When debriefing, be as complete in your description, and totally upfront and honest in presenting the situations you encountered. Sugarcoating may hide something that the facility will want to know about. Seemingly to misrepresent your actions, or trying to shield embarrassment you may feel about it all, will make it appear like you have something to hide, or that you are dishonest. Trust me — embarrassing things can and do happen in the healthcare setting! You won’t be the first nor the last to have a tale to tell — the appropriate listening ear. The ‘telling’ is all for the better — for you and your effective performance.
But, what if something happens that shakes you so badly you wonder if you should continue in your stead as a healthcare family entertainer? In this case, I am not referring to anything you have done, but perhaps encountered in visitation, and having a difficult time dealing with:
- Debrief with your coordinator or the staff contact (as applicable — don’t go over your coordinator’s head). Don’t keep anything a “secret.”
- Garner team support for you and your work. Know that you are not alone, and work with an experienced partner who can help you through your visitations.
- If you feel you must, speak with a trusted counselor to deal with the feelings, reactions, or to gain coping skills necessary to overcome any such future events, should you continue.
The Flip Side: I’ve never known anyone in my almost 14 years who needed to have counseling for their experiences on rounds, but I do understand something could happen that might affect someone, and they may wish to take this route.
- Sometimes, folks discover this kind of ‘work’ isn’t their cup of tea. Totally understandable. If they feel that way, their feelings should be respected. Sometimes difficult memories are unearthed, that folks thought were long ago put to rest — but vestiges still remain.
- Sometimes, folks need to take a break, or go on leave for a season. Life circumstances, and newly-arising responsibilities really do get in the way, and give reason for taking time out. A Word of Caution: Getting back to it is sometimes difficult, following a break…
For the most part, recognizing the fact that as in life, there will be bumps in the road, knowing things do not always turn out as you expected, is a healthy mindset. Realizing those of us who share the healthcare venue ‘stage’ with you, are all “in this together,” and we share similar concerns and convictions, even when our viewpoints vary — you are never alone.
You can run this race with endurance, sharing Miles of Smiles wherever you go. Through the trials of miles, and enduring miles of trials, armed with an understanding of “why” you are ‘there’ in the first place (the focus is not all about you) — and sticking with it, you will effectively inject Healing Humor in the healthcare setting. You are surrounded and supported by so many of us who have gone through these trials. We’re serving alongside you, in the trenches!
Remember those who have been influential in your development, and had impact in your training, cheering you onward, encouraging and helping you. You are surrounded by a crowd of supporters!
TIP: If you have any questions related to this topic, discuss your situation with your group coordinator. Many strategies and specialized training may be available for you through your hosting facility or group.
NOTE: This article deals only with the “personal” aspect of this topic. Strategies and program components can and should be implemented by active groups, troupes, ministries, and/or hosting facilities.
Let us never forget what is important — Keep the Humor Going!
Writing to encourage you — always….
Recommended Resources:
- 5 Related articles you might find helpful are listed below this blog post (click on the title of this article, if you don’t see topics listed below)…
- You’re invited to receive our FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker e-Newsletter… by signing up to receive FREE Hospital Clown e-Newsletter (click on this link here)
- NEWly-published book especially for Hospital Clowns, Caring Clowns, Healthcare Family Entertainers, Applied Humor Therapists and SmileMakers, about entertaining in the healthcare setting (click on this linked text): Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting: Entertaining Effectively in the Healthcare Venue
~*~
AHeart4Clowning offers extensive resources and ongoing online training 24-7, available on-demand, on your schedule from the comfort of your computer, anytime — wherever you are. Read program details by clicking the following links:
Applied Humor Therapy Mentorship: Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting
Healing Humor: Live Happy – Be Healthy!
Work of Heart: Establishing Hospital Clown/Healthcare Entertainer Group – Train/Prep/Equip
While it is said the longest journey begins with a single step, the adventures of a hospital or caring clown into the Great Clown Unknown may comprise the most incredible experience of a lifetime, in every step taken by those funny shoes and in the true heart behind that nose. This book is written based upon personal experience, explorations and interest-directed research serving in the trenches, as a hospital or caring clown since 1997.
Presented as an inspiring collage from my clown heart as a grassroots volunteer community-based hospital clown creative ministry coordinator, this book is well-seasoned with insight, served up with the purpose of providing a dose of encouragement to active healthcare venue performers and creative arts entertainers; those with a heartfelt desire to inject healing humor into the healthcare setting; or those simply interested in taking a peek into the joy-full existence, a part of the blessed journey of hospital/caring clowns and creative arts family entertainers!
The Print Edition of From the Heart: Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting (the basis of this eBook), was one of my 2 books selected by my publisher to be featured on the Amazon.com Marketplace.
NOTE: If above “preview” feature doesn’t work, click this link to preview book on our Publisher’s site: http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/from-the-heart-injecting-healing-humor-in-the-healthcare-setting/4475595
This eBook is available in Adobe PDF (format) – Adobe Digital Editions
5 Related articles you might find helpful on Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting, are listed below this blog post (click on the title of this article, if you don’t see topics listed below)…
You’re invited to receive our FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker e-Newsletter… by signing up to receive FREE Hospital Clown e-Newsletter (click on this link here)
Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting Counts!
Sometimes healthcare facilities carry their quantitative analysis beyond the office suite, bringing it to the hospital clown, applied humor therapist, or healthcare family entertainer group. The reason they do this, is to measure your group’s contact on each visit or set of Rounds.
Needless to say, being so ‘in the moment,’ entertaining and doing work that looks like play doesn’t leave much room for an analytical mind. Math skills in that time and space, seem counterproductive to me.
Fortunately for our group, when asked, we could estimate. The best “guesstimate” for our team, was to base our reach on the patient census the day of our visit, and add in an estimated number of visitors.
Our reach — and likely yours, if you visit nearly all the patients in the hosting facility who can see you — is far greater than anyone else on any given day. Administration will be mightily impressed if looking for numbers!
However, if their quest is for more hard, fast and “real” numbers, you will need to devise a system…
Here are 4 ways to help you track the number of patients visited on Rounds:
- Some facilities require groups with a staff liaison, making “the count” much easier, since they have a list of patients you will see that day. If you need to add visitors into the count, employ a means that works with your performances. (More ideas, below…)
- Entertaining with at least one teammate, designate who will be the ‘analytical mind,’ to track numbers with a notepad, a mechanical or digital “counter” to tally the patients visited. Being clever, you may even work it into your routine. (I hope for your sakes and future performances, that this is only a temporary request, as I would find it difficult to keep up with. It is easily forgotten!)
- Based on estimated numbers, count out approved simple-fun giveaway items designated for patients, and something else cool for visitors. At the end of visitation, you can inventory your supply, to determine your numbers. (An inherent challenge with this technique will be when that cute little girl visiting wants what you brought to give her grandma, and vice versa. And so on…)
- Based on estimated numbers, bring along a uniform one-cool item for all, like a “Laugh Ticket,” a “Hug Ticket,” which can simply be dispensed from a colorful roll of stock tickets to all you see. (This works well, as long as no one wants an ‘extra’ (it happens), one of the items falls on the floor (rendering it uselessly contaminated lol), or you really do want – and – need to dispense another, to someone for some reason.)
…as you can see being analytical, counting, and even simple math while in the midst of sharing laughter and cheer is difficult to do! In this role, we are cast as “performer.” We exist to perform. Having to take extra steps and incorporate somewhat unrelated tasks, hinders the overall performance. It also drains at least some of the creative spontaneity in the appearance.
If you’ve read this blog for very long, you know I’ve written about the importance of the focus remaining on the patient, putting them first in all efforts at all times. Extraneous tasks and mandated responsibilities not actually related to entertaining divert the performers’ attention and mar the performance for the intended audience.
I’ve also explained why entertaining ‘in the moment’ with-to-and for the patient (audience) is critical for engaging them and effectively performing applied humor therapy. In fact, improvisation is important for an engaging performance.
For this reason, it is not advisable for a hospital clown group, applied humor therapist troupe, or healthcare family entertainers to be assigned the responsibility for tracking visitation numbers on Rounds.
Side Note: Since you likely visit a number of patients, remember to observe your hosting facility’s Infection Control policies and maintain best practices, to alleviate the possibility of spreading infection.
How about you and your group? Are you required to provide your hosting facility Administration the number of patients, and maybe visitors seen on Rounds? Please leave a comment describing your preferred tabulating method, and how it works for you…
More Resources:
Guides on: How to Establish a Hospital Clown or Healthcare Family Entertainer Group, and Entertaining in the Healthcare Setting, click this linked text (here)
—-AND—-
You’re invited to receive our FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker e-Newsletter… by signing up to receive FREE Hospital Clown e-Newsletter (click on this link here)
—Share Miles of Smiles: Funny Smilemakerz Kit for Smiles on a Stick and Endless Smiles—
Click here for Miles of Smiles: Funny Smile Makerz Kit + MORE
Funny Smile Makerz have been popular for years with a lot of folks all over the place wanting to share smiles!
Funny Smile Makerz Kit + MORE is now available on our established Podclass platform. Podclass is the awesome place on the web where we’ve offered our AHeart4Clowning and Healing Humor webinars and audio programs since 2008. It’s a very user-friendly platform you can visit as often as you like, and enjoy our classes, webinars and products ongoing, indefinitely!
Over the years we have offered the Funny Smile Makerz Kit, it has grown, but so has the need! With this in mind, we expanded the Funny Smile Makerz to much more than just an art file to print out…
Funny Smile Makerz have always been able to:
- Easily share Smiles everywhere
- Print as many Smiles as desired, often as needed
- Produce quantities of Smiles in batches
We’ve repackaged and renamed it: Funny Smile Makerz Kit + MORE — and also included:
- 37 Totally FUN “Bright Ideas” eBook, filled with experienced presentation and production pointers to create more FUN and Smiles
- FUN Printable Label Templates, to share smiles more creatively
- Video Tips
- Easy Printing Tips eBooklet
The Tips and Performance Pointers are designed to help you create a presentation or performance segment built around and using Funny Smiles for all types of audiences and venues. These ideas are based on my tried-and-true experience as a Family Entertainer since 1997. We believe this repackaging offers much more value, service and product, presented in an all-in-one user-friendly environment, organized and easy for you to find, use and enjoy!
- Click here for Miles of Smiles: Check out Funny Smile Makerz Kit + MORE
This all-NEW very cool version of Funny Smile Makerz Kit is better than ever, with added features, NO waiting, NO email hassles.
Easy! Download and use right now, and when you need them!
- Fast! Or fast as your internet connection (can’t help you there lol)…
- No placing orders for ‘another kit’ or ‘supply,’ hoping to get them in in time!
- No more hoping the order arrives as your ordered, risking disappointment!
- NO shipping charges! NO sales tax!!
- THE most inexpensive way to create Miles of Smiles!
- Can’t find your Funny Smile file downloaded on your computer? It happens, doesn’t it?! No more searching your computer for the art or label templates — easily found and always available in your Funny Smile Makerz Kit + MORE — just a click away!
Our Promise: If the Funny Smile Makerz Kit + MORE fee increases — you will pay no additional charges.
When new materials are added to this program, you will receive the value at NO additional charge!
Check out our NEW Funny Smile Makerz Kit + MORE (click this link)
That’s right! Absolutely NOTHING… and it’s pretty drab, boring, downright cheerless, and probably depressing — for everyone. Don’t let this happen! Add color, smiles and cheer to the healthcare setting near you — TODAY.
“Healing Humor is NOT a Band Aid — it’s a Way of Life.
It’s for EveryBuddy!” ~ Becky Cortino
REMEMBER: A Smile is a terrible thing to waste.
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Resources and other Great Stuff to help you:
5 Related articles you might find helpful are listed below this blog post (click on the title of this article, if you don’t see topics listed below)…
—-AND—-
Resources – Guides on: How to Establish a Hospital Clown or Healthcare Family Entertainer Group, and Entertaining in the Healthcare Setting, click this linked text (here)
—-AND—-
You’re invited to receive our FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker e-Newsletter… by signing up to receive FREE Hospital Clown e-Newsletter (click on this link here)
—Share Miles of Smiles: Funny Smilemakerz Kit for Smiles on a Stick and Endless Smiles—