Archive for the Category »Work of Heart MultiMedia «
It's all about the relationships... it's a Partnership
As with most worthwhile things, a hospital humor program requires more than one individual to establish, coordinate and run it. The starting point is a partnership-type relationship with a hosting facility, humor program initiators and participants.
By definition of partnership, the hospital or healthcare humor effort is by nature a joint venture, requiring commitment and participation on the part of all involved.
Unfortunately, this connecting point is where many hospitals or healthcare facilities are challenged, regarding establishing a viable channel from which to operate a humor program. A majority of facilities relegate humor program coordination to their volunteer department, often already overloaded with directing the day-to-day activities of a population that resembles a small city.
Humor programs do require special attention, by nature of the work done. In order to have an effective humor program and joint venture effort, it is critical to have the program defined, with all responsibilities, area(s) of operation, and activities clearly outlined.
This greatly aids the hosting facility, because:
- They know in advance where this entity is positioned within their operations and organizational heirarchy.
- It saves them valuable time, because it is implemented in tandem with a trusted, responsible partner.
By having all established activities and areas of operation defined and coordinated by an appointed volunteer, the only time spent by a staff member would be for an occasional debriefing or update meeting with the coordinator. Perhaps these meetings could be scheduled quarterly, and supplemented by a regular monthly program status report detailing group activity and plans.
Previously, I wrote outlining the many ways having such a humor program offers tremendous benefits to a hosting healthcare facility. I also wrote about the fact that such programs only come about based upon the all-important relationship between the facility and the participants. A successful program also spills over into the community, with far-reaching effects and building priceless community good will.
In times like these, humor is needed more than ever. This is no time to cut back on a simple program that will enhance the quality of patient care, substantially add to the wellness team, while building community good will at low to very little expense. A hospital or healthcare facility humor program run as a partnership will have far-reaching benefits, and positively sets the hosting facility apart from all the rest.
If you currently have or are participating with a hospital or healthcare humor program, and would like to fine-tune your efforts, or would like to establish a humor group, I offer a comprehensive online training program available on your schedule 24-7 (on-demand) – click on the linked text (below) for program details:
Work of Heart: Establishing Hospital Clown/Healthcare Entertainer Group – Train/Prepare/Equip
This online multimedia program not only provides a tried-and-true blueprint to save you valuable time in customizing a viable humor program tailored to your facility, but also over 100 pages of training materials for your group, along with printable hand-outs, performance pointers, training videos, and a Private One-on-One Personal 30-minute Coaching Session via Skype with me — Becky Cortino, to answer your questions, brainstorm solutions and ideas for your group or facility.
…I have written 3 books (to date) on this aspect, spoken on this topic, and presented this material internationally, in addition to training 245 hospital clowns in 10 consecutive sessions (comprised of local, regional and out-of-state attendees), a training program I concepted, implemented and directed, in partnership with my group’s hosting facility.
How may I help you?
Receive information to help you with your humor program: 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)
Recommended book: Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting: Entertaining Effectively in the Healthcare Venue
AHeart4Clowning on World News Network
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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.
If you or your group are looking for a training program or presentation from a fresh perspective (click this link)
TIP: How-to Promote Your Group or Training Program at Little to No Cost (click this link) <—on your own — this isn’t a pitch!
How may I help you or your organization? (click this link)
Always Available on Your Schedule: AHeart4Clowning ongoing Online Training and Mentoring Programs (click this link)
To Encourage & Inspire Touching Hearts thru the Arts!
My heartfelt mission is: Helping to Prepare, Equip & Train those with the True Heart of a Clown to inject Healing Humor into the Hospital or Healthcare Setting, as a Hospital/Caring or Therapeutic Clown, Healthcare Family Entertainer, Applied Humor Therapist… or to establish a Hospital/Healthcare Humor Program!
I’ve written prescriptions and provided the tools for those of us at the Grassroots Level (that’s you ‘n me, by the way!) to use. You can pick from a whole array, choosing the most palatable form that’s easiest for you to digest. This way, you can make best use of the material, according to your own situation or group plans!
My books, audio/video products, and multimedia are geared for all levels of experience. Everything is written in a down-to-earth style, based upon hands-on experience from a me-and-you perspective, not from a Corporate Ivory Tower How-to, or pontificating upon the multitude of minutiae you must always keep in mind, that will forever hold you back from sharing laughter and joy in the healthcare setting.
Don’t miss out on oodles of FREE Resources! Since publishing my first book in 2007, I have freely been offering loads of insight, information and cool ideas here to help you — so be sure to check around my AHeart4Clowning.com site, and sign up to receive our newsletter to keep updated!
Make 2011 your best year ever for Massive Healing Humor Injections! Everyone’s waiting for you…
Injecting Healing Humor, also known more widely as Applied Humor Therapy in the Healthcare Setting, is a Work of Heart. It is a gift freely given, to ease a patient’s pain or sadness, a visitor’s grief, a stress-buster for the staff. It is a recognized need in this highly-regulated and often tentative environ, as well as outside the walls for the rest of the world.
The need is so intrinsic to health, the concept so clown-simple, I can’t help but believe one of the reasons why so many wish to deny this basic human need is because it’s like reminding someone to breath. But reminding someone to breath is much more acceptable, it seems…
There are countless benefits to having a Humor Program in the Healthcare Setting. While every facility is different, as established within their parameters, the results are priceless.
For little to no money invested in such a program, if executed properly, the results and community good will could not be otherwise purchased.
Here is a 5-article series I wrote on this topic:
Benefits of and Reasons for a Healthcare Facility Humor Program:
http://www.aheart4clowning.com/2010/05/06/7-reasonswhy-healthcare-facilities-need-a-humor-program/
Setting up a Healthcare Humor Program, Appropriate to Your Facility:
About AHeart4Clowning MultiMedia and resources I have written and produced, specifically for this venue:
Books and MultiMedia — Establishing, Training, Preparing and Equipping a Hospital Clown or Healthcare Entertainer Group:
MultiMedia Program now Available — Establishing, Training, Preparing and Equipping a Hospital Clown or Healthcare Entertainer Group:
Register to receive the largest FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker Newsletter (electronic)
Did you find this information helpful? Sign-up to receive more experienced insights FREEly shared, through our free newsletter, click this link: http://www.aheart4clowning.com/sign-up/
Injecting Healing Humor in Healthcare Setting
Early this spring, I shared my excitement with you about launching Work of Heart: Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting MultiMedia Program. Though difficult for me to wait for this program release, the weeks have passed as I put the finishing touches on this package. At last June 1st has arrived, and here we are officially launching this unique online MultiMedia Webinar to help encourage hospital clown and healthcare humor programs!
While it seemed a long way off at the time when I first told you about it, the span of weeks that passed is certainly not as long as the distance I have come in putting this program together for you! That meandering journey began as I set my very first baby clown foot on the hospital floor way back in 1997…
What a joy-full journey it has been! Filled with many-many hours of learning — like you… designing costumes and routines — like you. Attending training programs, conventions, conferences — like so many in our discipline. So – you know how much time you’ve spent! Oh — I and had two children I’ve been taking around with me since 1997, also — so I guess I need to multiply that time spent for prepping them, as well as me… I’m happy to report we continue making Rounds together still today – counting it all Joy!
Through the process I’ve learned quite a lot. I did not start up the hospital group that I am fortunate to coordinate since 2003, but I did establish the now-infamous Skool concept that draws folks from out of state to attend, and the ministry has become what is known as a “New Generation,” expanding to include professional family entertainers, honored to be featured in The Hospital Clown Newsletter.
Are you part of an existing hospital clown or healthcare family entertainer group? Regardless of your level of experience — do you want to start one? The lessons I have learned are ones I gladly share!
I am thrilled beyond words to officially launch my newest MultiMedia program that I believe is groundbreaking. It is filled with insight, experience, inspiration and down-to-earth strategies to help you:
- Establish a Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer Group or further an exisiting one
- Help you Train, Prepare and Equip Your Group, including special clown arts enrichment activities and components to complement your efforts
- Help you Promote Your Group, to grow your group
This online program is presented from a Grassroots (that’s me-and-you), down-to-earth perspective, based upon tried-and-true hands-on actual hospital group development and coordination, and a long-time career in marketing/PR and communications. While I cannot claim to have been a circus clown or performed in hospitals in other countries, I have lived-breathed-hospital clowning since 1997 and my communications/Marketing/PR indie profession has been my lifelong career. My perspective is unique, and the information I can provide you through this program will help you in your efforts even if you have been a clown for many years.
Based on my experience, I have relevant information-rich content that will help you in your efforts, and hopefully keep you from spinning your wheels unnecessarily. I know how much time it takes to coordinate a group! This program is supported by my desire to encourage hospital clown and healthcare family entertainer groups globally and to help you coordinate your group, while saving you valuable time.
This webinar package is a comprehensive information and media-rich presentation. Each segment is thoroughly covered, and is like attending 3 seminars on this topic – then leaving the conference with a boatload of resource materials!
Do you need a dose of inspiration and some encouragement?
There are many preliminaries and considerations that need to be addressed in setting up – or coordinating an established hospital clown or family entertainer group, as well as training, equipping and getting the word out about your group.
Downloadable and printable materials to use for your own group are included in this online MultiMedia Webinar package, allowing you the benefit of attending a conference on your own schedule, from the comfort of your own computer! The entire program may be viewed indefinitely.
This MultiMedia program is designed as an extension to the recently-published book, How to Establish a Hospital Clown or Creative Ministry by Becky Cortino.
My book served as the official text for the first-ever ministry weekend program held by Frye Regional Medical Center’s Charlie’s Chaplains’ Hospital Clown Creative Ministry in 2007, it was expanded from the conference spiral-bound version and reprinted in 2008 by Lulu.com as a bookstore-quality paperback book. It remains as the featured text on this topic.
Although complimentary in nature, this webinar program goes well beyond the book by covering training, preparing and equipping a hospital clown or healthcare family entertainer group, in addition to promoting the group. It does not cover “How to Establish a Hospital Clown or Family Entertainer Group” as in-depth as the book, so is a recommended companion to this webinar:
How to Establish a Hospital Clown or Creative Ministry by Becky Cortino
More details and to register for this program: http://budurl.com/WorkofHeartWebinar
Look forward to seeing you in the program!
More Info: About Becky Cortino, featured program presenter
Injecting Healing Humor in Healthcare Setting
After I finished writing my first book, How to Establish a Hospital Clown or Creative Ministry Guide, my mission became clear and is very simple: I want to help further clown arts and humor programs in hospitals and healthcare settings globally.
That’s why I am especially excited about launching a brand new MultiMedia Webinar on June 1, 2010! Work of Heart: Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting is a presentation comprised of 4 component segments, designed for new and established groups, based on my years of experience as a hospital clown, since 1997.
In this unique online program participants will discover:
1) How to Establish a Hospital Clown or Healthcare Family Entertainer Group: It’s NOT Rocket Science!
2) Training and Equipping a Hospital Clown or Healthcare Family Entertainer Group: How to Train, Entice, Encourage, Over-deliver, Keep the Team Going!
3) Promoting and Marketing a Hospital Clown or Healthcare Family Entertainer Group: At Little to NO Cost, for BIG Results!
4) Sample Special Training Modules: Low-Cost Clown Arts/Group Performance How-To’s and Arts Enrichment Electives.
This online program is presented from a Grassroots (that’s me-and-you) perspective, based upon tried-and-true hands-on actual hospital group development and coordination, and a long-time career in marketing/PR and communications. It is a comprehensive information and media-rich presentation. Each segment is thoroughly covered, and is like attending 3 seminars on this topic – then leaving the conference with a boatload of resource materials!
Private One-on-One Personal 30-minute Coaching Session with Becky Cortino is included. Answer your questions, for recommendations, brainstorm solutions.
Do you need a dose of inspiration and some encouragement?
There are many preliminaries and considerations that need to be addressed in setting up – or coordinating an established hospital clown or family entertainer group, as well as training, equipping and getting the word out about your group.
Downloadable and printable materials to use for your own group are included in this online MultiMedia Webinar package, allowing you the benefit of attending a conference on your own schedule, from the comfort of your own computer! The entire program may be viewed indefinitely.
This MultiMedia program is designed as an extension to the recently-published book, How to Establish a Hospital Clown or Creative Ministry by Becky Cortino.
My book served as the official text for the first-ever ministry weekend program held by Frye Regional Medical Center’s Charlie’s Chaplains’ Hospital Clown Creative Ministry in 2007, it was expanded from the conference spiral-bound version and reprinted in 2008 by Lulu.com as a bookstore-quality paperback book. It remains as the featured text on this topic. My publisher also selected it, along with my other book, From the Heart: Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting, to be featured on Amazon. I did not apply for, request nor pay for that — so as you might imagine, it is a real thrill to have both of my books selected to be featured on Amazon by my publisher!
Although complimentary in nature, this webinar program goes well beyond the book by covering training, preparing and equipping a hospital clown or healthcare family entertainer group, in addition to promoting and marketing the group. It does not cover “How to Establish a Hospital Clown or Family Entertainer Group” as in-depth as the book, so is a recommended companion to this webinar:
How to Establish a Hospital Clown or Creative Ministry by Becky Cortino
Hope to see you in the program! Be sure to check the links for all program details: Registration begins June 1, 2010 when this MultiMedia Program officially launches!
More Info: About Becky Cortino, featured program presenter
This MultiMedia Webinar program available beginning June 1, 2010