A Heart 4 Clowning: Hospital Clowns, Caring Clowns & Healthcare Family Entertainers

Are you planning a training program, conference or session? Are you preparing for good attendance, and possibly to expand the number of attendees? In addition to great training, do you hope to increase your group membership?

Becky Cortino AATH Presentermembership?

This is the goal of many folks and organizations who plan fabulous training programs every year. Yet, I hear “the numbers are down.” Such has been the word on the street for several consecutive years, in actuality. Because the dwindling numbers seem to be a persistent condition, I don’t think we can any longer blame them on “9-11,” gas prices, the economy, and anything-else-you-want. I think this problem is caused by a number of factors. Let me explain with a couple of recently-presented examples…

Not long ago, a colleague shared with me how some organizations in a particular niche don’t co-promote conferences and programs with other groups. In examining this situation, we determined each organization has its own culture and way of doing things — that is what sets them apart. Each entity is comprised of a unique set of individuals, with some spill-over in membership, of course. Due to the group’s parameters, focus and mission, their interactions and dynamics are different. Yet it is an undeniable fact that there may be — and probably is — an overlap of interests and desires are shared by these groups, to an extent.

Coincidentally, later that day I received a magazine from an organization I’ve been a member of for a long time. I glanced at the nice cover, and began reading it. Paging through, all the faces were almost all the same faces I see in any other magazine from this niche — the same folks! The upcoming program features the same — or very similar — training segments, taught by the same people! I actually surprised myself with this discovery, and then had to really search through the magazine to be sure which organization published it. I was unsure — blindsided by the similarities! The organization’s identity was not clear in my mind, and the upcoming conference details couldn’t be easily located.

Simply Thinking Outside-the-Box: Both of these examples provide ample opportunity for any organization, group, troupe or ministry that wants to offer a great training program, conference or convention, and grow attendance and membership:

• We are on the Same Team, and always have been. Work together, not as the ‘opposition.’ Working together for a common cause is always far more powerful than trying to compete in a market that supports a concept or philosophy — such as “Healing Humor,” ‘clowning around,’ adding some Joy and color to the increasing-gray world we share. More voices in unison get heard.
• Don’t be afraid to create a truly unique group identity or mission statement, to set your group apart from the others. If as a marketing-communications media consultant with decades of experience I can’t tell your publication apart from the others — that should tell you something. If I have to work hard to figure that out because I want to, you can imagine the confusion you’re creating in the marketplace!
• Always vary training programs and presenters. I love seeing a ‘familiar face,’ but ignoring new ideas presented by fresh faces or folks with a different perspective helps turn program offerings unintentionally stale very quickly. If I can see the same person at another program closer to home, or in tandem with many-many others I’ve already have heard several times before, a presentation remix is a welcomed transfusion. If attendance is down, I’m just sayin’…
• Creativity Inspires: Try something different! As hospital clowns, caring clowns, healthcare entertainers and related Healing Humor niches — we operate in a world that is based at least in part on the concept of creativity. Why should we ever allow our training programs to become formulaic in nature? Sessions and conferences may have similar underpinnings that set them apart from others (or should) — but to be viable, all segments must be allowed to be reworked and revamped to provide fresh, new content — presented in new ways.

SUMMARY: I believe the days are now long gone that many people will continue to attend a “yearly” meeting — or even regular training — if it does not offer them something different and useful. In fact, the more immediately-delivered benefits and useful information perceived as personally valuable by each attending individual, the better. This is the nature of the market ‘today,’ and what people are looking for. At the same time, there is growing competition for time, dollars… and attention spans are growing shorter.

Several years ago,  the founder of a well-known training program admitted attendees said they came for the “entertainment” factor, not so much to learn. To me, that is a telling statement.

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