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Developing a character, clown or family entertainer persona is an ongoing process, with many interconnected considerations. First and foremost, it must come from within. The very essence of ‘being’ must be firmly-rooted from somewhere. If not, the character is so wispy and thinly-veiled, it seems more like a tumbleweed than a believable being to have fun and share a lighter moment with, in reality.
Structure for the character and performance comes in developing skill sets, while increasing knowledge base and understanding of the medium, message and venue. This is accomplished with ongoing education through books, multimedia, programs and conferences. A broad spectrum is recommended for the greatest Big Picture View, but care should be taken so as not to become weighted down or confused by “information overload.” This condition is caused by piling on more and more great good learning, with the frequent side effect of inertia and missed opportunities.
Many sources of tremendous information abound, but a plan of action will help anyone who wants to learn more about our special work that looks like play, to grow, develop and be able to provide maximum positive impact.
Goal setting is recognized as an effective means to develop, effect change and accomplish great things. This same strategy should apply in growing, learning and further expanding a character as well as a performance.
As for new things to learn, mind-reeling possibilities are endless. Just thinking about them gives the sugar-buzz feel of a kid set loose in a candy shop! Begin making your plan by listing out the aspects or areas you would like to explore. Let your mind run freely — it is hard to contain creativity, afterall… and why would you? Resist the urge to limit yourself, thinking you could “never do” something, or it would for some reason seem “unreasonable.” In this step, you are simply brainstorming with yourself, and laying out lots of ideas to consider.
Next: Using your list
Performers sometimes must change their tune!
By the nature of their performance venue, hospital clowns and healthcare family entertainers must be versatile and quick on their feet. The personality traits of these special entertainers embody the true heart of a performer, with care and compassion for their audience.
The joy-filled interlude from a patient’s present situation at it’s best, usually appears spontaneous and sometimes even random. It may be spur-of-the-moment, or well-rehearsed, incorporating a number of possible outcomes with different avenues that may be taken. At final bow, the end result of the mini-production is always a special presentation just for that audience.
Sometimes further performer versatility is required by the venue itself, due to new regulations, procedures or newly-discovered potential risks. In case of of Swine Flu, new procedures were adopted at some facilities, while others cancelled Rounds until the epidemic was over. Either scenario causes a change in operations and modus operandi, doesn’t it?
In the case of new procedures or regulations, hospital clowns and healthcare family entertainers usually have to adapt their act or performance to conform. This change sometimes causes a major revision in the actual presentation, to fall within the prevailing guidelines. All segments of a presentation may have to be reworked or retooled accordingly to comply.
Hospital clowning is known to be one of the most difficult disciplines, due to the great number of regulations and restrictions surrounding the performer’s very existence in the setting. A performer in the healthcare venue has to be versatile in relation to the audience as well as to the setting in which they entertain. None of the conditions, observers nor the environment are ever set.
When a change in procedure or protocol causes an entertainer to revise their performance, this gives them an opportunity to become more proficient in the art, to develop a new presentation, and to become more professional in the process.
Facility policy changes may require a healthcare performer to review their act and rewrite accordingly.
The challenge — and the benefit is actually 3-fold:
- Performance must comply with the newly-mandated practice or procedure parameters
- Presentation must effectively deliver entertainment and humor to the intended audience
- Performer learns a new method or means to produce and present in a fresh, new way
As synonymous with the concept of “change,” sometimes entertainers get stuck in a rut and want to avoid revising their act. This stunts their development as a professional, keeping them fresh and learning ongoing, and withholds the needed relief and refreshment they could otherwise offer.
Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting: Through Hospital Clowns, Healthcare Family Entertainers and Applied Humor Therapists takes Heart, Dedication and Training but NOT a degree or special certification.
Recently, a professional family entertainer shared with me their discomfort with changing up their act, a personal reaction to meet more stringent guidelines now in place by a hosting healthcare facility.
Change in an act requires careful examination of many elements in the performance, not the least of which includes the entertainer. Even minor revisions take time, concentration and commitment to see the fine-tuning enhances, rather than adding unnecessary clutter, or possibly removing a key ingredient.
It is a well-known fact that people resist change every day, in every way. Artistic license and creativity are two areas to be respected. Based upon these two irrefutable truths, the professional family entertainer’s reaction is understandable, but gives others pause to wonder what the focus of their performance is — on the entertainer, or for the audience?
By the fact that family performers exist to entertain, it would seem no matter how talented, no performance occurs without the audience. Otherwise, they are merely practicing.
The purpose for hospital visitations, Clown Rounds or healthcare visits is not to “put on a show.” It is to relieve the pain, stress, loneliness or suffering experienced by the patient – the intended ’audience.’ If a “show” is presented, no real connection is made. Thus the ‘audience’ is really a mere spectator, not drawn into the the joy and wonder of the moment, away from their condition or situation.
Perhaps it is that playing with the audience, rather than to the audience is more difficult for some. Maybe performing a practiced routine to receive applause and admiration from all for incredible feats of skill are really what is being sought. Most new entertainers are robotic in their performances, being careful not to “lose their place” in a well-rehearsed act. The presence of any of these possible tendencies calls for an in-depth personal examination as to purpose and focus of an entertainer’s performance.
Hospital clowning is known to be one of the most highly-regulated clowning specialties, due to the protocols, procedures and mandated training. It defies logic to think it should be otherwise, risking life and limb, and spreading disease rather than laughter and cheer. Ignoring policies and best practices is a sure way to be banned from entertaining in any hospital or healthcare facility.
As hospital clowns, caring clowns and healthcare family entertainers, we must do our important work within the guidelines and procedures presented. Health conditions and new developments in the field give rise to the opportunity of developing personally, and in performance in new, exciting ways. This provides an ever-changing framework to further develop professionally.
While the voiced concern of one professional family entertainer is understood, the ability of ‘thinking outside the box’ has been an ever-present element in the type of performances we do.
How are you retooling your performance to meet any new healthcare guidelines or protocols? Please let us know, by leaving a comment…
As a precautionary measure to combat the spread of H1N1 (also known as the Swine Flu), new policies and procedures are being put into place in healthcare facilities worldwide.
This has impacted hospital visitations for those in the Applied Humor Therapy venue:
- Some hospitals have banned or suspended hospital clown group visits for this season
- Some hospitals have amended visitation policies, but allowed clown visits to continue
For those who are currently not making Clown Rounds due to temporary suspension of these visits, it is difficult to have to sit on the sidelines for an unknown period of time.
However, this bit of extra time and space gives hospital clowns and healthcare family entertainers the opportunity to explore new dimensions and learn new skills! Some well-worn props in need of repair, or to be refreshed are waiting for attention. Maybe time and effort could now be lavished on that dream routine or must-have accoutrement waiting to be invented?
For those hospital clowns, caring clowns and healthcare family entertainers who are fortunate enough to continue their Clown Rounds, the heightened awareness of potential infection, coupled with the associated stringent institutional policies, provide new opportunities for Applied Humor Therapists to rise to a greater level of professionalism in their performances.
Finding new ways to spread laughter and cheer and not infection in their entertainment bits, fine-tuning presentation by making one-on-one time with each patient more meaningful, and staying healthy in the process are all possible, with renewed emphasis on best practices and hygiene protocol.
Either condition for the hospital clown, caring clown or healthcare family entertainer require the Applied Humor Therapist to not be swept away by the situation, but rather think outside the box — to their next step.
Such is always the case for those of us who make Clown Rounds, but this time our efforts are reframed with a new focus. This is an opportunity for increased professionalism on all counts. It is an epidemic opportunity!
How about you? Have new policies been established in your hosting healthcare facility? Have they affected your entertaining or visitations in any way? Please leave a comment and let us know…