First rehab/nursing home show

Jims · #1 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 11:39 AM

Any advice? I have been clowning just at my church, 7 shows actually. I've learned allot at the 2 clown conferences I attended and the info from books and the web. On 3/22 I will be doing a show for a friend of mine who is there recovering from illnesses he got going through kemo treatment. I have already talked to the activities director and told her I was new and she basically told me balloons are alright but no candy, which I figured. So I am nervous about this. I have a few routines planned and figure I can do 20 to 30 minutes, I ordered a portable pa system and will brush up on my balloons for after the show visiting (along with the staff).
So any advice would be great. Thanks

Tiffany · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 11:53 AM

The most important thing is to respect them as adults. Introduce yourself, give some background information about why you are a clown and then begin your fun. Instead of twisting balloons for everyone- why not teach them how to twist and do a balloon excercise class

You will have more success if your program is interactive. You still may have to help twist for some due to limited mobility. Have a senior help with a magic trick.

Sometimes the biggest thing that can help you is to theme everything. Whether it be a holiday, an occupation, etc. That will help you pick routines, songs, and gags you can do.

saphireSue · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 09:52 PM

ditto to what Tiffany said.

If you can, make time to go around and meet each one personally, many have vision and hearing problems at an older age and need the one on one interaction. Usually they want to see my wig and face up close, we have a lot of fun.

in Harmony with Jesus · #4 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 07:56 AM

On the down side, be warned that some residents may not take kindly to you... there was a lady at the home we visit regularly that told one of our clowns once that if she had a baseball bat she'd beat him upside the head! He just smiled & said something to the effect of "well I still love you & Jesus does too." or something. Now, she's one of the first he has to go see. And heaven forbid he doesn't make it to one of our visits! She'll put him through the ringer the next time he comes for NOT coming to see her! But 99.9 % of the time you will get a great reaction. And what a feeling when you see that smile begin to creep across their wrinkled little faces. I'm always blessed by our nursing home visits!

katchup · #5 (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 12:11 AM

Jims;
I clowned up recently at the near by nursing home.(I had phoned the activity
director they new i was arriving)
I was nervous when i got there standing in the parking lot
when i went thur the door the Ladys at the reception got the giggles
and i was in my clown frame of mind it was one of the funnest events i have done. I also agree with Tiffany
I didn't have them tie balloons but we all had balloon hats by the end of my 11/2 little event they were interactive in some of my simple magic tricks(mine are simple because i only now 3or4 easy ones)the biggest thing i forgot was the hearing problems some of the residents and they missed the punch lines
of some jokes but they enjoyed having me there because they have called and want to know when i'm coming back for a visit.
Iguess my advice would be; beyourself, have fun and the clowning and the other stuff should take care of itself.

Jims · #6 (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 09:54 AM

I want to thank you all for the replies, you have given some great advice and calmed my nerves. I will let you know how it goes after. I will be going on the 22nd, I just ordered a portable pa system so I'm hoping that will help the folks that are hard of hearing. I will brush up on my balloons too, have not done allot of them so I will go over my dvd again and make a batch. The hats I think are a great idea. I think the nurses might like them too. I did talk with the activities director and she was open to about anything with the exception of candy which I figured that wouldn't be allowed anyway. A very good friend of mine is there rehabbing after he caught everything that is going around after 4 treatmants of cancer. This is his second round of this stuff and he's 62. So he hasn't seen me a JIMS so I told him I would come visit him as JIMS. He is the pastor of my Christian Motocycle Association chapter. That's the other ministry that I am involved with also. So bringing a clown to biker events is going to be interesting!! Thanks again everyone and may God bless you all.

SparkyDMFD · #7 (**permalink**) 03-17-2008, 08:37 PM

The biggest problem I had when I first began doing nursing home programs was dealing with a completely different type of response. Where most venues I present shows at I have a very interactive and loud audience.....with nursing home residents you sometimes wonder if "anybody is home." I think it takes a strong clown to be able to keep up the energy of the show and your character under these cirmstances. Depending on the group, you may not receive much if any response to your funnies, etc. But know that you ARE making a difference and they ARE enjoying you each and every minute.

Before and after the show I like interacting one on one with residents. When doing this I try to never look "down" on them. Either pull a chair up next to them and sit by them or simply drop to one knee. Close eye contact is imperative with patients with memory problems.

Smile a lot and giggle or laugh frequently. Laughter is CONTAGIOUS and they need it so much! It's an emotion that is hard to find in many nursing homes.

Good luck and have FUN!!!!!

Blessings,
Sparky

Nettie Belle · #8 (**permalink**) 03-17-2008, 09:08 PM

One time when I was at a nursing home, there was a lady there who was very cranky and I handed her a gift, and instead of saying thank you to me, she shook her head and snarled ... "your makeup makes you look like a CLOWN!" I stepped back and said, "oh really? ... well, that's GOOD NEWS ... because I AM A CLOWN!" She started laughing then and the others around her did too.

I would say most of them are not happy about being there, and they get cranky. The cranks are not cranky because of YOU ... they're just irritated because they're there.

Jims · #9 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 09:58 AM

Wow, you all were right, it was a very different experience. I'm new to clowning also and it really showed how inexperienced I am, I did have one person laughing at everything I said but not much response from anyone else. I did have one lady that wouldn't put the silk into the change bag during the magic trick, so I had to promise her that I would give her a 4 color silk she could keep. So I need to buy more silks. After the show I did get to visit with the residents and I took pictures with them at the staffs request, that was where my heart went out to each of them. They said I did good and wanted my card, but I really felt pretty poorly about my performance. I really need allot more work on my acts. This was only the 8th time I have preformed. I can't wait until I get to advanced studies this August.

Fitzwilly · #10 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 06:48 PM

Jims, it sounds like you really touched their hearts and they touchd yours. Congratulations. No matter where we are with our clowning there is always something for us to learn. Caring clowning is to me, one of the most difficult and special forms of clowning out there. We can always be better but it sounds like you were just what that group of residents needed.