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

Trusting The Moment: Use improv to build team and foster creativity.

In April, 2010, I interviewed Jeannie Lindheim…. from my early days as a hospital clown coordinator (2003), Jeannie Lindheim loomed large in my world, so it was indeed an honor and privilege to meet up with her, and to interview her on AHeart4Clowning TalkRadio Show.

Founder of Jeannie Lindheim’s Hospital Clown Troupe following a trip to Russia with Patch Adams in 1996 (now known as Hearts and Noses Hospital Clown Troupe), Jeannie has entertained over 50,000 children, and is the author of a unique training program in improvisational hospital clowning that has made a difference in the lives of hospitalized children in twenty‐three countries.

After Hurricane Katrina, Jeannie went to Houston to support the New Orleans evacuees there. She spent a week at the George R. Brown Convention Center clowning and doing “by the cot” visits to 1,100 people. She has also written a unique Training Program for improvisational hospital clowning that has been sold throughout the United States as well as in twenty‐three other countries. It’s clear to see that Jeannie has done amazing work, with far-reaching effects worldwide!

A family of the theatre, my family is involved in all things theatre. As testament to our longterm involvement, our oldest Magic’s Royal Duke Sammy Cortino is poised to launch out on his professional career as a performer. Jeannie’s approach to utilizing “improv” in training hospital clowns rang truest of true to us, and affirmed what we believed to be the most effective way to train hospital clowns, caring clowns and healthcare family entertainers to perform in this special venue.

Related to theatre skills and making Clown Rounds, we were already ‘there’ in the improv mindset, with 7 years of theatre and hospital clowning experience at that point. We realized as new folks joined the hospital clown ministry FRMC Charlie’s Chaplains, incorporating the technique of improvisation in our training program was key. In fact, we find it surprising that more hospital clown training don’t include this as part of the regular training regimen still today. Jeannie’s philosophy and improvisational approach was affirming.

So it should be no surprise that Jeannie would write a fabulous book about using improvisation. “Trusting The Moment” was just published by Satya House Publications. In the minds of many, I’m sure she is the perfect person to write it.

Jeannie Lindheim, MFA has taught acting, movement, improvisation, creativity, auditioning, and characterization techniques for thirty years at a variety of educational institutions including The Boston Conservatory, Harvard University Law School (Theater in the Courtroom), Boston University, Boston College, Lesley University’s Graduate Expressive Therapies Program and others. She ran her own theater school for thirteen years.  She is currently the director of Jeannie Lindheim’s Center for Creativity – Turning Inspiration into Action, in Boston, where she offers diverse workshops.

She has worked with every age group and many different types of groups including teachers, theater companies, actors, sociology professors, high school principals, law students, high school dropouts, graduate and undergraduate students in education, physicians, nurses, senior citizens, teenagers, young children and people with disabilities. Jeannie has conducted more than 100 regional and national workshops for primary care and specialty physician groups on Dealing with Challenging Patients and Situations, and Communicating to Patients with Life‐Threatening Illnesses.

Her new book sparks creativity and imagination, and is based on the premise that when working with a group, in a workshop, classroom or at a retreat, the event should be one of the most exciting learning experiences in the world, for the group leader as well as for the participants. Those who work in creative professions, such as teachers, coaches, youth leaders, actors and directors, sometimes face the challenging task of coming up with new ideas when dealing with individuals or groups.

Trusting The Moment: Unlocking Your Creativity and Imagination, presents a treasure trove of insights to help increase cohesiveness and creativity. The heart of the book is a selection of 50 unique exercises for those who work creatively and like to have FUN! Perfect for hospital clowns, caring clowns and healthcare family entertainers, as I see it…

Based on the essence of what improvisation is all about, the exercises are designed to:

• Help people foster self‐esteem and confidence
• Get to know themselves in new and exciting ways
• Build memory, concentration and listening skills
• Become more flexible, physically and emotionally
• Learn how to live in the moment

The purpose of this book is to give the reader a set of tools that will make them a more effective, exciting and excited artist and/or group leader. It includes ideas on the art of group leadership, as well as specific suggestions for group procedures.

The exercises encourage team and foster creativity by:

• Breaking the ice when your group first meets
• Freeing people from the blocks and inhibitions that many people bring to one‐on‐one and to group situations
• Encouraging your group members to be open, vulnerable and trusting with each other
• Building a warm and supportive environment, where each person will feel free to express his or her own creativity and joy
• Developing a bond between group members that will allow each one to be spontaneous and take risks

In addition, the section on the Art of Group Leadership is a valuable resource for group leaders in any field. Trusting The Moment also provides an extensive resource section for further exploration.

I asked Jeannie what it was like for her, to create this book based on her many years of experience. She thoughtfully replied, “It was wonderful, exciting, thought-provoking and creative!”

…and not unlike Jeannie Lindheim or her career, I’m thinking…

For More Information about: Trusting The Moment click this link (here)