Archive for the Category »Mentorship Training Ongoing «
A real blast from the past on AHeart4Clowning TalkRadio Show! Encore presentation of our all-time MOST popular broadcast — ENJOY!
From our very first broadcast season, Becky Cortino explains:
- Need for training and continuing education for all
- Different levels of proficiency, to gear necessary training
- Types of training, to make any training program more effective
SHOW NOTES:
The Healing Humor Program discussed in this show is now available as an online multi-media program. For more details and to enroll, click here: Healing Humor: Live Happy – Be Healthy
Online Training and Mentorship Programs and lots of Resources are available via AHeart4Clowning.com. For more information about programs and resources, click this link: Training from the Heart
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)
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…
- Lessen the OOPS! Factor…
Awkward moments happen, don’t they?! Awkward silences… a time everyone wishes had never happened… or something we would like to forget…
The truth is, you can find those moments, places in time, or events anywhere — any time. The healthcare setting is no exception.
Awkward moments occur in the healthcare setting, often precipitated by the very reason a hospital clown, healthcare family entertainer, applied humor therapist or smilemaker has for being there:
- Patient unknowingly, unaware, under heavy medication
- Staff in high gear, attending to patients
- Visitors, wanting the best for their loved one
The possibilities and combinations of awkward moments are so vast, and always developing, that I don’t think it would be possible to establish a comprehensive listing of them. In fact, healthcare personnel visiting patients for years, agree with my observation that even after my almost 14-years in the hospital setting, I continued to see “something I had never seen before” on clown rounds.
Two reasons for these surprising developments:
- Based on the diversified human condition and all sorts of health-related situations — the possible combinations are limitless. So often, we like to categorize things in order to simplify, don’t we? We think this helps us to organize information, better understand things, and direct our efforts appropriately. However, when dealing with the human condition in the healthcare setting, much of what is experienced from the hospital clown or healthcare family entertainer standpoint does not allow for easy categorization.
- Just like life, these awkward moments “come at you fast,” so a healthcare humor therapist has to be ready. Changes can occur as you’re in the patient’s room, or when you just walked in to visit. How you handle these situations affects the outcome of your visit — it’s effect, and your relationship with the hosting facility and staff. It may even affect your future performances.
How awkward moments are handled are dependent not so much upon a “standard operating procedure” (as the situation often defies ‘definition’), but rather based on training and preparation. You may wonder how training can prepare anyone for the unknown occurrences or yet-to-happen or be-seen event? Good question.
Through proper training, and mentorship, a hospital clown, caring clown, healthcare family entertainer, applied humor therapist, or smilemaker may:
- Become familiar with the concept of the “uncertainties” that lie within the healthcare facility walls.
- Develop strategies for dealing with “uncertainties” that may occur while on rounds.
- Gain confidence in the process, resulting in increased ability to handle whatever comes their way during visitation.
- Become proficient in performing in-the-moment, on-the-fly, and changing up their performance instantaneously.
While on rounds these many years, I’ve had a number of awkward moments occur around me. Like life, the beauty and simplicity lies in how you handle them. I have performed in mixed company and not, in the midst of some pretty surprising occurrences and conditions. I believe my extensive training provided a solid platform from which to do the work that looks like play, in the middle of whatever I encountered.
If you’ve read my writings for any length of time, you know I’ve said that folks often think visiting patients in the hospital is an “endearing idea.” They think this without a real understanding of what is involved. For them, it’s a warm and fuzzy idea in a cold, sterile world. I’m glad it looks easy to them — that’s what we would want for them, isn’t it?
Some aspiring to perform this wonderful service for others leap into training, but come away without what I consider to be ‘true preparation.’ Recognizing the fact that there are some awkward things ‘training’ can’t specifically prepare anyone for, but rather a broad-brush approach, to provide knowledge and confidence to deal with the unknown.
How to prepare for the Great Clown Unknown (I reference in my first book), requires training, mentorship and actual experience. To hold folks back from going on the floor until all the training components have been ‘checked-off The List,’ severely limits the effectiveness of any clown training program.
Some facilitators and hospital clown trainers like to make it all seem like Rocket Science. I promise you, it is not. It is much more like an art than a science.
Even if a hospital clown or healthcare family entertainer has a “clown doctor” persona, I assure you this ‘funny biz’ is much less about “science” than the actual ‘art’ of the human relationship. If there is even a bit of “science” in the mix, I guarantee the patients, family and staff will not permit you to perform the necessary surgery or medical procedures, no matter how extensive your training, check-marked accomplishments on The List, your “degree” or science background!
So — “awkward moments” happen. They happen for the reasons I listed above. They exist because people are people. These moments will continue to happen. The most effective way to deal with them is to be prepared the best way we can — through training and recognizing this fact. Otherwise, we are putting the mechanical aspects of what we do ahead of the actual administration of applied humor therapy — our true purpose for being there. The ‘work’ we do is based on the ‘art’ of the human relationship.
Remembering this helps lessen the impact of the OOPS! Factor… and don’t we all feel better about that ?!
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)
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:
Laguna Woods Caring Clowns
Clowning in An Adult Day Care Facility
by Bubbles the Clown
“The clowns are here” are the words spoken as the Caring Clowns from Laguna Woods Senior Clown Alley joyfully enter the South County Day Care facility for adults. Excitement begins to fill the air. At the instant those words are spoken, the senior citizens are engaged in the monthly entertainment that the clowns provide. A lively march played on kazoos, greets the participants in the day care program. Waves, enthusiastic smiles, giggles and laughter spread throughout the room, as the participants enjoy the bright colors and fun costumes, while clowns parade around the room shaking hands and greeting each one.
Laguna Woods Senior Clown Alley is located in Laguna Woods, California and is a volunteer alley made up of senior citizens. There are approximately 50 clowns in the alley. We participate in community events, fundraisers, hospital visits, and entertain at the South County Day Care facility. The center serves around 80 senior citizens who enjoy the socialization and activities that they receive at the facility. Our caring clown troupe consists of about 13 clowns who have dedicated themselves to giving something back to these delightful senior citizens. Our goal is to bring joy to our audience and also give them opportunities to interact and exercise and have some fun times going down memory lane.
The clowns prepare a new program each month and try to plan around a theme related to holidays or seasons. For example, the April theme was about spring. We had fun with songs like Singing In the Rain, Easter Parade, and Somewhere Over the Rainbow. We did a rainbow skit and pulled out a long rainbow streamer that stretched across the room. December was especially fun when we sang Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and then transformed everyone into Rudolph by giving red noses to all.
Our program has increased from being just a kazoo band to now including skits, games, exercises and of course, singing. Clowns enter playing and singing the song of the month and we also exit with the same song. After making our grand entrance, we introduce ourselves clown style and sing the well-known “The More We Get Together” We usually sing each song twice because we found it helps with participation. We include games like the Freeze Game, Name That Tune and short skits. Puppets are always a big hit too.
After we have completed the theme, we conclude with requested old favorites. Almost always, Take Me Out To The Ball Game is requested. We sing it twice and as we do, we toss around huge trash bags that have been blown up and tied like a balloon. They love to keep those huge balloons up in the air and tossed around the room. The program ends with the song of the month and waving goodbye, blowing kisses and promises to be back next month.
After the clowns exit, we quickly reflect on the glow we feel, we sigh happily knowing we have made a difference today…. and then start thinking about next month’s plans.
Thanks so much for sharing Laguna Woods Caring Clowns Senior Clown Alley’s joy-filled experiences with us Bubbles, so appreciated! In reading your story, I remember when your group began their Kazoo Band… I had the privilege and joy of personally meeting Bubbles and her husband while in California, when I presented on “How to Establish a Hospital Clown or or Healthcare Family Entertainer Group – Train, Prepare, Equip” at the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor.
Did you enjoy this story? To read more, sign-up to receive our FREE newsletter: http://www.aheart4clowning.com/sign-up/
How about you — do you have some memorable caring clown moments? If you have a “Most Memorable Moment” story to share, please do! We’d love to shine the Big Top spotlight on you — to inspire others!
Applied Humor in the healthcare setting has tangible benefits!
A continuing theme I have shared here in my writing and presentations that I have personally experienced, is the importance of preparing and equipping a hospital clown group, troupe or ministry. I share this with you, my readers, because I often hear this concern voiced by other hospital humor group coordinators.
A group must be nurtured with appropriate training that “fits” the facility (not the trainer/presenter’s own idea of ‘how it’s supposed to be’), exactly in line with the prevailing philosophies, standards and approved practices.
No one can be considered “trained” for any ‘job’ without proper instruction from the hosting facility, entity or group. Proceeding without adequate preparation is a recipe for impending disaster which defies logic, given the restrictions, security and privacy issues that shape and define all activity within the healthcare realm.
Depending upon the nature of the venue and the size of the group, training may take different forms, or be a combination of special sessions, on-the-job, mentoring, and more applications. For coordinators and group leaders concerned with the proficiency and quality of performance of their group as a whole, I have some tried-and-true recommendations…
On Rounds, for consistency in delivering applied humor therapy, in a controlled environment: train and provide specified schticks, sight gags and mini-performances identified as being in keeping with the facility demeanor, and the setting. This helps folks new to entertaining begin to build their skills and confidence in performing, while providing them some ready material to draw from and build their repertoire upon.
Here are 3 reasons why providing supplies is important:
- Providing the tools needed, all materials to perform these specified bits, and required supplies assures uniformity and predictability, which meets objectives and allows the newer, less experienced folk to become more fully acquainted with a limited realm of performance responsibilities. Entertaining bits and shticks can always be expanded, as they gain experience.
- All materials are approved by the hosting facility in every way: patient and environmental safety; assurance the item does not pose a threat of harm in any way (audible, known sensitivities, visual, etc.); is hygienic and able to be properly cleaned/disinfected; not promotional material of any kind for services or other informational/persuasive materials.
- Presuming your group is volunteer-based, and no one is reimbursed for their time, costumes or makeup: Save team members money otherwise spent purchasing possibly inappropriate items, that they can apply toward their costumes and makeup. This will result in a more professional-looking group of hospital or caring clowns, and healthcare family entertainers.
The bottomline on all of this, in taking the approach of actually providing the group supplies, training and entertainment bits is:
- Consistency in performance.
- Higher liklihood of participant’s quality appearance.
- Greater participant focus on the 2 things that will impact their performing: 1) what to do/how to present; 2) how they look — professional or not. As a whole, these 2 factors will make-or-break their performance.
Are you wondering how to make the needed materials available for Clown Rounds? Customized Hospital Clown Carts filled with all the essential items are a fun, colorful and convenient way to dispense this happy fun. I take you through the steps of creating a serviceable Hospital Clown or Humor Program Cart to use on Rounds in my online mentoring program. To view, click this link here.
Adapting material learned is relevant performance!
Attending a hospital clown or caring clown training program off-site? A lot of us do, Recently, a colleague and I were talking about training and best practices to help train, prepare and equip a hospital clown group, troupe or ministry, and what to do with all that great stuff you learn in these programs.
Here are some of ideas I shared:
- Realize training programs outside your hosting facility are not created specifically for all the nuances of your particular venue. Most likely, they are presented based upon ‘universal principles’ or generally-recognized standard operating procedures in the healthcare venue. This is a wonderful way to share ideas, glean inspirations and network. By being open to this experience, you will discover differences and similarities between your organization and others. Viewing the training program in this way, allows you to gather take-away points to adapt or appropriately revise your group activities and performances at your uniquely individual facility. It also supplies fresh material and approaches!
- On Rounds, for consistency in delivering applied humor therapy, in a controlled environment: train and provide specified schticks, sight gags and mini-performances identified as being in keeping with the facility demeanor, and the setting. This helps folks new to entertaining begin to build their skills, confidence in performing, and provides them some ready material to draw from. Provide the tools needed — materials to perform these specified bits, and all required supplies. Hospital Clown Carts filled with all the essential items are a fun, colorful and convenient way to dispense this happy fun.
- Coordinators control group activity and adapting performance. As leaders, we have to take what we learn and apply it to our own settings. At a training session especially where the presenter is a vendor (selling supplies) it is possible to learn something that is not appropriate in a patient’s room, but maybe in a community or public area — or not at all, anywhere… that is up to our judgement, and based upon our hosting facility.
In my many years of receiving training from a variety of sources, I have observed a majority of training is presented in a heavy-handed as ”this is how it is” approach. I believe this approach is so completely incorrect. That is what inspired AHeart4Clowning’s message as Unique.
I cannot apologize for pointing this fallacy out over-and-over-and-over again, and am too-often vindicated when I hear this approach (and pressure) is still applied in training. Each attending facility is totally different, and how they can do this important work varies. We exist to perform and must be free within our own unique bounds to do so.
Are you looking for a way to more effectively train, prepare and equip your hospital clown, caring clown or healthcare family entertainer group? If you would find it helpful, AHeart4Clowning offers ongoing online home study programs on this topic, and an online Mentorship Program. For more information (click this link, here): http://www.aheart4clowning.com/ongoing-training-mentoring-programs/
Here’s an easy way to find A Heart 4 Clowning and Healing Humor: Live Happy – Be Healthy online — with our QR (Quick Response Matrix code) — click on picture (below), to view:
A Heart4 Clowning & Healing Humor QR (Links)
The above site contains A Heart 4 Clowning and Healing Humor: Live Happy – Be Healthy URLs all-in-one convenient location!
You can scan the QR Matrix (lower left corner) with your iPhone, BlackBerry or smartphone to go there, also… our QR is located on this site => click on this link (here) to try it out!