What is your favorite hospital gag.

My favorite gag has be squashing germs with a rubber hammer.

You tell thh patient that you are going on a gem hunt and look around for germs with the hammer.

This relates:
this isn't a gag. this is a bit. gag's have a beginning, middle, and end. like a short story.

What every does anyone have a bit, gag, put on, come on, wind up, skit, ice breaker or anything that they use i a hospital setting?

And it does have begining middle and end if it needs to. But it is the needs of the audience that are most important.

I got nuthin! but i sure do wish someone would post something...

Gag may also refer to the specialized or gimmicked props clowns may use. {Sight Gag} It's still a Gag...a Bit is just a very short Gag. I think you are both right...Just a little BIT

.... Bits also are the clown's sketches or routines made up of one or more gags ...


"My favorite gag has be squashing germs with a rubber hammer. " This can aslo be a gag if done in Character, you add the missing parts by being Body Funny...PHYSICAL COMEDY!





What is a GAG?
The American circus term for a clown's act is "gag"; Europeans refer to it as an "entrée", and amateur clowns sometimes refer to it as a "skit" or "sketch". Gags are the clown's written and rehearsed performances. They can take place in the... ring (a ring gag or production gag), on the track (a track gag or a walkaround)... or in the seats. They can be done solo, with the ringmaster, with other clowns or with audience volunteers. They have a beginning, middle and end, finishing with a "blow-off". Gag may also refer to the specialized or gimmicked props clowns may use.Gags can use many different types of blow-off (ending), but some of the most popular are the confetti bucket, the long shirt, a pants drop or the time-honored "all clowns exit running" although contemporary indoor shows may end a clown gag with a simple blackout.

Do we REALLY NEED to get into the definition?? I think everyone understands what the original poster was asking for! For a bunch of clowns you guys sure are technical about your language...

Gag, Bit, Prop, or poop just give us some ideas to go off of.

And yes I understand that you are trying to help but it is coming offf as OH OH !! I know more than you because I Know the proper terms!

PLEASE give me a break!

And instead give us something that the original poster asked for IDEAS!

Love
Smilee! :0D

Please excuse my punctuation...or lack there of.

Just some information for any one interested...if your not thats alright too...

On the same germ front.

You can take a weed sprayer and claim that it is germ spray.Don't put anything inthe sprayer even if it is wateer. That really annoys hospitals.

Also on the germ killing front is small squeecky hammers. Locally we have a store that sell them cheap. They are a nice little give away. An if you give the patient a hammer you do not have to worry about transfer of real germs.

Germs are a constant issue in hospitals. you have to be careful with the props that you use. A recent study found that one of the greatest transmitters of germ is the Doctor's tie. they lean over patients and do not clean them every day. A similar fate can befall a favorite puppet or gizmo.

On the same germ front.

You can take a weed sprayer and claim that it is germ spray.Don't put anything inthe sprayer even if it is wateer. That really annoys hospitals.

Also on the germ killing front is small squeecky hammers. Locally we have a store that sell them cheap. They are a nice little give away. An if you give the patient a hammer you do not have to worry about transfer of real germs.

Germs are a constant issue in hospitals. you have to be careful with the props that you use. A recent study found that one of the greatest transmitters of germ is the Doctor's tie. they lean over patients and do not clean them every day. A similar fate can befall a favorite puppet or gizmo.

yes this is what i have been told as well. i will be going into one of the shriners burn hospitals for the first time and was told to bring nothing i could not even wear gloves. i guess i am really nervous about the trip just because i hear that it can be really moving.

Yes cloth gloves are a germ magnent. The first time I went to a hospital i had to give them up. As odd as it souunds bare hand and hand sanitiser is better. It does go against circus clown tradition but it you can't make people sick.

Stickers are also great. Not much of a gag but they are something that can be given away. They sell two or three inch roundstickers on rolls that can be cut apart. A lot of hopitals do not let us give out balloon so that are a substitute.

there is also origami. You can cut up cheap wrapping papper into squares. You tell a story or ajoke while making the kids favorite animal. Having something to give away will extend the joy of a visit after you have left.

thats cool thanks! i will have to ask the other shrine clowns in my unit if that is acceptable. They have been doing this for years so they would know best!

the origami is a cool idea wish i could do it.

i'm sure i could figure it out i know there are a lot obooks on the subject.

Thanks

If you're buying stickers, get some with fish on them. Stick a fish sticker on an IV bag to transform it into a fish bowl.

Stickers are also great. Not much of a gag but they are something that can be given away.

Take a class with Angel Contreras sometime and you'll see just how fun, funny, and entertaining they can be made to be. After all, ANYTHING can be used as a prop in the hands of someone who knows how to use it well and comedically.

Bubble wrap is cheap and comes in handy. I cut it into squares and give them away as "stress reducers". I give them to medical staff due to their jobs being so stressful and to family members of patients due to all the stress they are facing. It goes over well.

http://www.clown-forum.com/members/normal-t-joey-albums-fool-s-wisdom-clown-circus-christian-bros-show-picture6943-15011-1163440906123-1830882061-333262-7624407-n.jpg


I use a wilting flower, egg bag routine, also a Delight routine for rooms that have the lights down low...I carry a construction tool bag that looks like a larger Doctors Bag with a small 20 to 30 minute magic show. I also carry in this bag about 3 to 4 sight gags...the give away flower is one of them. I use this gag mostly to entertain people in the hall ways of Hospitals...I call this kind of entertaining “Jocular Engineering”...

...

It was red hat day at the Nursing Home...

http://www.clown-forum.com/members/normal-t-joey-albums-fool-s-wisdom-clown-circus-christian-bros-show-picture6946-red-hat-day-nursing-home.jpg



You could walk around the Hospital with a small bag of Cement on your shoulder{ the bag is empted and refilled with paper and the words Cement in large bold lettering on the side so every one can read it} A large sign reading ..."Side walk Sale" is held in the over hand...

http://www.clown-forum.com/hospital-clowning/8165-tips-first-trip-into-hospital.html , http://www.clown-forum.com/hospital-clowning/5221-hospital-props-3.html , http://www.clown-forum.com/hospital-clowning/7193-something-leave-behind-2.html , http://www.clown-forum.com/hospital-clowning/3283-props-hospital-clowning.html , http://www.clown-forum.com/hospital-clowning/1995-props-hospital.html Ok guy I went through the archives and pulled up these old thread. Read through them and you might get more ideas for Hospital and nursing home routines. Some are old and times have changed but there's still some good info there.

I would recommend wearing a white Doctors Jacket {over sized] these white medical jackets will help keep your costume clean, germs you know...You can add many a pockets on the inside to carry small Close-Up magic, or sight gags. Also most of these jackets are made with a kind of antibiotic material...germs you know...

This is here for information only and no animals where hurt in the writing of any information written by Zany NormaL T. Joey

This is here for information only and no animals where hurt in the writing of any information written by Zany NormaL T. Joey

Little does Normal know the clown forum is actually powered by a herd of chipmunks on a treadmill. There are hundred of the little guys in service to the site. they take four hour shifts thirty at a time.

On the Animal I have a cat that i take to the hospital with me sometimes. She has a little vest sewn into her harness. The local Humane society can put you in contact with people who can certify and animal for humor therapy. it is not that costly. And it is a great thing for the less experinced clowns in my group.

Here's an idea for a hospital sight gag...
Put a stuffed cat on a stick, and run it over the patient and tell them you're performing a CAT Scan on them.

That would be a great bit for a real cat if that is you therapy animal. Granted it is not as good if your use a dog. Thanks Alex.

SOme random Cat Scan Cartoon by the way.
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/c/cat_scan.asp

That reminds me of something else. We have some cartoon cards that we give out to folks. They are on a 4 by 5 card. There is a cartoon and a thankyou from the clown for letting them visit. On the back is a maze or cross word. We make them up ourselves on the computer. But they are a sterile thing that can be given away. And something that linger in the room after the clown can extend the happy feelings.

Wear swim fins in to the Hospital and tell every one that your going for a swim...wait a minute thats not Funny...


What's the differences between Broccoli and Buggers?...Most kids won't eat Broccoli...


Tim, I used a Knife once comedically...and I was a real Cut -UP.

You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can't wipe your friends on the couch....

Just heard this the other day, and I can't remember where...wanted to give credit, if there is any....

t hooks, make sure that you do not wear gloves, bring balloons, or put makeup on your neck. These are just some of the tips that I have learned. Which hospital are you going to?

As for gags, we do quite a few. It depends a lot upon the audience though- ages, language abilities, attention spans, etc. If you are performing for non-english speakers, physical comedy is the way to go.

One of the best pieces of shtick is my partner and I use Dlights (1 each) and "pass" the fire. We bounce it back and forth to each other, put it in each others' ears, anything we can think of.

t hooks, make sure that you do not wear gloves, bring balloons, or put makeup on your neck.

...Ummmmmm about that?

I will be going to the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled and Burned Children. I talked to the other clowns in my unit and they basicaly said no gloves no ballons no hand outs of any kind...I don't know about no make up on the neck...They haven't mentioned anything like that to me.

I have found that having no makeup on the neck makes it a bit easier for the kids. Not a requirement, just a tip that I have found useful.
Which location? Boston? (I am a Shriner as well)

Thanks, I am down in San Antonio with the Nemnuf clowns of Alzafar Temple, so i will be going to the Burn Hospital in Galveston, and the Crippled Childrens Hospital in Houston.

The only thing no makeup on your neck does, is make you a yamma.. If you have a base color that looks like your natural skintone then it's one thing, I don't paint my neck for this reason.. but if it doesn't match your skin, for instance white. it's more likely to make you look scary than it is to make you more likable for kids.. Your neck is the least of your concerns if your makeup is scaring kids..

Seeing as it's a hospital setting, instead of a real cat (which some people will be allergic to), or a stuffed cat (which will collect germs), I'd suggest a light-weight plastic cat that can be easily cleaned. You could do the same with a dog if it looks like a lab, and call it a lab test, and mention the results from the lab.

I can see how no makeup on the neck could make it less scary for the kids, it would make it look more like a mask (on a white face), and masks come off, so this is a regular person, and not some strange kind of alien.

When I used to do hospital clowning, one of my props was a little skillet pan that I got at the Dollar Store, and I created a little bed in the pan and put a little stuffed animal in the bed, and everything was secured down with glue gun. I would tell them they could use my bedpan as soon as (name of your animal in the pan) was finished using it.

Another thing that everyone liked was the prescription pad where you could write out a prescription for hugs or smiles or something like that.

The first thing I would say was, "my my you are looking a little PALE" (and hold up a tiny pail) and when I would leave, I would hold up a tiny grater and tell them I hope they were feeling a little greater now with my visit.

There are all kinds of cool hospital props. Clown Antics (http://www.clownantics.com) has a bunch. I think I might have made a couple car payments for the owners when I first started clowning. I bought a bunch of stuff.

Is this some information you were looking for? I like the germ chaser idea. That is cute.