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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)
- 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:
Go with the Right Heart into the healthcare setting...
Are you in love with the idea of what you do as a hospital clown, caring clown, as an applied humor therapist or maybe even as a healthcare family entertainer? Or — are you in love with the “idea” of what it’s all about?
It’s a noble thing we do, to generously dispense Healing Humor all ’round, giving of ourselves and sharing laughter and cheer in dark places crying out for it, isn’t it?
At the same time, it may surprise you, as it does me — folks who are seemingly so “sold” on the idea of injecting Healing Humor in the healthcare setting — in actuality are often much more in “like” with what they “do,” and more in “love” with the idea of what it’s all about.
What do I mean by this? I mean there are folks who love to:
- get all decked out and show up — which is surely a good thing, but don’t welcome training opportunities that would help them to be more proficient, professional and effective.
- talk about this cool thing they do down at the hospital or visiting those folks in the nursing home, but rarely can fit it into their always-busy schedule.
- entertain, be the center of attention, cheer the patients and staff, but put very little effort into their props or presentation (physical or look).
Guess some folks think “something” is better than ‘nothing.’ However, if we measure effectiveness for the effort expended, these are mindsets that will quash, demean or lessen the effect.
The purpose of ‘being there’ in the first place is patient-centered:
- If you’re not constantly learning, and open to receiving training ongoing from experienced and professional trainers and mentors, you’re quickly losing ground. You’re not top-of-your-game, or giving your best.
- If you’re not there, you’re not putting the patients “first” — you’re putting your schedule ‘first.’ If you’re “sold” on this concept, you must ‘sell yourself out’ to it fully. Otherwise — it’s expensive lip service you’re giving, for the money you spent on your trappings, props and supplies, isn’t it?
- All props and costumes become worn with use. Some items are not really intended for the use we make of them and wear out quickly or not be of quite good enough quality. If you are not willing to give your best in every way, it will come through every time in your performance and delivery. You don’t need to spend big bucks for a fabulous look — a little time and attention to detail go a long way.
It is amazing the number of folks who:
- will willingly and repeatedly turn down excellent training to further the art and increase their proficiency and professionalism offered by their own local organization (and not getting it anywhere else either, I might add!), and instead continue to do what they’ve always done, thinking that is “good enough.”
- would not otherwise make rounds were it not required by some organizations, in order to be “active.” If you’re part of an effort, you need to be an actual participant, not just on the roster.
- believe any old thing they want to bring along with them to the hospital, nursing home, or healthcare facility is ‘fine just as it is,’ or little care is taken in preparation to “be there.”
So, in the midst of all of these mindset-things that pull folks away, divert their attention, or fool them into thinking “this is good enough for now — I’m here, aren’t I?” Their efforts are marred, missing the mark, and not as effective as they could be.
If you think about it, in the hospital or healthcare setting you have one opportunity to “make it” — or not. You have a special one-on-one performance just for that patient, a staff member who needs a lift, or how about that worried relative who’s visiting? How can you look them in the eye and not give them only the very best — and all you’ve got?
Everyone is counting on you.
Entertaining in the Moment with AHeart4Clowning
As performers in the hospital or healthcare setting, our focus is on the patient. Because we’re constantly sizing up our audience’s situation, looking for ways to empower them, easing their discomfort, while gently applying generous doses of healing humor – improvisation is the most effective mode of delivery.
This is a key element, and why “skits” don’t work in the one-on-one healthcare venue. ‘Schticks,’ tricks, sight gags, and other portable components that can be pulled out of your hat, from your sleeve, and plugged-in anywhere at any time are invaluable and if appropriately used, can be effective.
Entertaining in the Moment is the most effective way to dispense Healing Humor, as an Applied Humor Therapist. Otherwise, if we are so busy ”performing,” we miss the all-important connection with the patient, and the flight to that Place of Joy and Wonder. For this reason, I call the act of Entertaining in the Moment “The Sweet Spot.”
Two related articles you might enjoy (in addition to 5 listed below…):
Hospital Clowns, Healthcare Family Entertainers: Which Comes First: The Patient or the Act?
Hospital Clowns and Healthcare Family Entertainers Perform for Children of All Ages
(TIP: Click on the title of this post, if you want to read but do not see the additional list of 5 Related posts…)
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.
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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!
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/
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…
3 big reasons for establishing a Humor Program in your hospital or healthcare facility presented by published author and longtime Humor Therapist Becky Cortino…
These are 3 compelling reasons to establish a Healthcare Humor Program — but wait! There are more…
In addition, Healthcare Humor programs:
In addition to these 3 compelling reasons, Healthcare Humor programs also:
These are 3 compelling reasons to establish a Healthcare Humor Program — but wait! There are more…
In addition, Healthcare Humor Programs:
*Have far-reaching effects inside and outside the facility walls!
*Provide priceless results at little cost reaching patients, staff!
*Build great community goodwill!
*Are NOT Rocket Science to set-up!
*Easily tailored to your facility’s specific needs!
For articles, resources, training, request consultation, visit: AHeart4Clowning.com
Contact: Becky Cortino, AHeart4Clowning.com