Healing and Liberation: Five Lessons From Israeli Medical Clowns | Sasha Kapustina | TEDxPershingSq

rarely people talk about clowning is a

rarely people talk about clowning is a powerful and invigorating art form and

powerful and invigorating art form and

powerful and invigorating art form and yet here I am I’ve been working on this

yet here I am I’ve been working on this

yet here I am I’ve been working on this documentary for five years following the

documentary for five years following the

documentary for five years following the clowns and I’m giving this talk on the

clowns and I’m giving this talk on the

clowns and I’m giving this talk on the weekend when it comes out I think it’s

weekend when it comes out I think it’s

weekend when it comes out I think it’s meaningful I think I’m here to turn

meaningful I think I’m here to turn

meaningful I think I’m here to turn around the American opinions about the

around the American opinions about the

around the American opinions about the clowns because you guys are alone in

clowns because you guys are alone in

clowns because you guys are alone in that sad corner of fear nobody outside

that sad corner of fear nobody outside

that sad corner of fear nobody outside is aware of the fear of clowns in Israel

is aware of the fear of clowns in Israel

is aware of the fear of clowns in Israel hospitals hire professional clowns and

hospitals hire professional clowns and

hospitals hire professional clowns and incorporate them into the protocols and

incorporate them into the protocols and

incorporate them into the protocols and procedures of the hospital so that

procedures of the hospital so that

procedures of the hospital so that clowns work with kids with adults with

clowns work with kids with adults with

clowns work with kids with adults with the families with the staff with the

the families with the staff with the

the families with the staff with the entire environment of the hospital to

entire environment of the hospital to

entire environment of the hospital to make it less stressful and a little more

make it less stressful and a little more

make it less stressful and a little more tolerable for everyone and I’m gonna

tolerable for everyone and I’m gonna

tolerable for everyone and I’m gonna give you a heads up I’m going to show a

give you a heads up I’m going to show a

give you a heads up I’m going to show a video right now with the clowns there’s

video right now with the clowns there’s

video right now with the clowns there’s no white face whatsoever no creepiness

no white face whatsoever no creepiness

no white face whatsoever no creepiness no weirdness just awesome super special

no weirdness just awesome super special

no weirdness just awesome super special Israeli medical clowns that’s wrong it’s

Israeli medical clowns that’s wrong it’s

Israeli medical clowns that’s wrong it’s not just to make him laugh is how to

not just to make him laugh is how to

not just to make him laugh is how to communicate I think that I’m addicted to

communicate I think that I’m addicted to

communicate I think that I’m addicted to medical clowning the red nose is like a

medical clowning the red nose is like a

medical clowning the red nose is like a license to talk to anybody you want

license to talk to anybody you want

license to talk to anybody you want [Music]

[Music]

[Music] it’s amazing it’s beautiful

it’s amazing it’s beautiful

it’s amazing it’s beautiful it’s fun it’s sad it’s tragic it’s

it’s fun it’s sad it’s tragic it’s

it’s fun it’s sad it’s tragic it’s happiness it’s the only thing that

happiness it’s the only thing that

happiness it’s the only thing that combines life the hurts moment in

combines life the hurts moment in

combines life the hurts moment in clowning it’s the greatness this is part

clowning it’s the greatness this is part

clowning it’s the greatness this is part of what I’m doing something that I

of what I’m doing something that I

of what I’m doing something that I choose to do in my life

choose to do in my life

choose to do in my life [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

so I’ve been following them a few years

so I’ve been following them a few years and have learned a lot about them but I

and have learned a lot about them but I

and have learned a lot about them but I also realized that in the process I’ve

also realized that in the process I’ve

also realized that in the process I’ve learned some cool lessons from them and

learned some cool lessons from them and

learned some cool lessons from them and I would like to share them with you

I would like to share them with you

I would like to share them with you so here are my five and a half lessons

so here are my five and a half lessons

so here are my five and a half lessons of clown wisdom learned from the Israeli

of clown wisdom learned from the Israeli

of clown wisdom learned from the Israeli clowns who are the jesters of the

clowns who are the jesters of the

clowns who are the jesters of the hospital Kingdom lesson number one

hospital Kingdom lesson number one

hospital Kingdom lesson number one embrace the chaos we’re used to hearing

embrace the chaos we’re used to hearing

embrace the chaos we’re used to hearing oh don’t try to control everything just

oh don’t try to control everything just

oh don’t try to control everything just let go well to me let go

let go well to me let go

let go well to me let go feels like defeat it’s sad and passive

feels like defeat it’s sad and passive

feels like defeat it’s sad and passive and the clowns have taught me to be

and the clowns have taught me to be

and the clowns have taught me to be active and to embrace the cast hospital

active and to embrace the cast hospital

active and to embrace the cast hospital is the kingdom of order everything has

is the kingdom of order everything has

is the kingdom of order everything has to be color-coded measured structured

to be color-coded measured structured

to be color-coded measured structured and this is the way it has to be for the

and this is the way it has to be for the

and this is the way it has to be for the hospital to run and this is the way we

hospital to run and this is the way we

hospital to run and this is the way we want it to be when we happen to be in

want it to be when we happen to be in

want it to be when we happen to be in the hospital we want order we want

the hospital we want order we want

the hospital we want order we want somebody in control and the doctors and

somebody in control and the doctors and

somebody in control and the doctors and nurses do their best with their love lab

nurses do their best with their love lab

nurses do their best with their love lab courts and charts to show that they are

courts and charts to show that they are

courts and charts to show that they are in control and the order they bring

in control and the order they bring

in control and the order they bring because to them the patient is a body

because to them the patient is a body

because to them the patient is a body that’s out of order that needs to be

that’s out of order that needs to be

that’s out of order that needs to be brought back to order so they bring

brought back to order so they bring

brought back to order so they bring those regiments diets and rules which we

those regiments diets and rules which we

those regiments diets and rules which we then hate when the order is imposed on

then hate when the order is imposed on

then hate when the order is imposed on us we can’t even feel alive because the

us we can’t even feel alive because the

us we can’t even feel alive because the truth is we are just as much creatures

truth is we are just as much creatures

truth is we are just as much creatures of gas as we are creatures of order so

of gas as we are creatures of order so

of gas as we are creatures of order so that’s when the clown comes in the clown

that’s when the clown comes in the clown

that’s when the clown comes in the clown walks in and by playfully challenging

walks in and by playfully challenging

walks in and by playfully challenging the doctors authority helps us feel a

the doctors authority helps us feel a

the doctors authority helps us feel a little bit more alive and they’re not

little bit more alive and they’re not

little bit more alive and they’re not disturbing the rules one of them

disturbing the rules one of them

disturbing the rules one of them actually told me we’re not breaking the

actually told me we’re not breaking the

actually told me we’re not breaking the rules we’re breaking all around between

rules we’re breaking all around between

rules we’re breaking all around between the rules they’re carefully

the rules they’re carefully

the rules they’re carefully orchestrating that chaos to help us feel

orchestrating that chaos to help us feel

orchestrating that chaos to help us feel alive because the order is not the

alive because the order is not the

alive because the order is not the relief embrace the cast lesson number

relief embrace the cast lesson number

relief embrace the cast lesson number two be present modern technology has

two be present modern technology has

two be present modern technology has tricked us into that feeling that we’re

tricked us into that feeling that we’re

tricked us into that feeling that we’re always present everywhere we’re checking

always present everywhere we’re checking

always present everywhere we’re checking everything we’re connecting with

everything we’re connecting with

everything we’re connecting with everyone all

everyone all

everyone all the time but the truth is that we’re

the time but the truth is that we’re

the time but the truth is that we’re more disconnected than ever before we

more disconnected than ever before we

more disconnected than ever before we break up over text we express

break up over text we express

break up over text we express condolences via emoji prayers sad face

condolences via emoji prayers sad face

condolences via emoji prayers sad face the ability to be physically and

the ability to be physically and

the ability to be physically and emotionally present is becoming a

emotionally present is becoming a

emotionally present is becoming a disappearing art and that ability in the

disappearing art and that ability in the

disappearing art and that ability in the hospital has an extra value because

hospital has an extra value because

hospital has an extra value because let’s be honest we would all much rather

let’s be honest we would all much rather

let’s be honest we would all much rather be absent from it than present in it all

be absent from it than present in it all

be absent from it than present in it all we want is an escape and within the

we want is an escape and within the

we want is an escape and within the truth is and that’s what clowns have

truth is and that’s what clowns have

truth is and that’s what clowns have taught me that indeed you can escape but

taught me that indeed you can escape but

taught me that indeed you can escape but only being present see the clown’s work

only being present see the clown’s work

only being present see the clown’s work in the hospital is not a show it’s not a

in the hospital is not a show it’s not a

in the hospital is not a show it’s not a stick what they do is a nonstop

stick what they do is a nonstop

stick what they do is a nonstop improvisation and they have to be really

improvisation and they have to be really

improvisation and they have to be really present when they walk into the room

present when they walk into the room

present when they walk into the room they don’t know what they’re walking

they don’t know what they’re walking

they don’t know what they’re walking into

into

into they have to be really present to assess

they have to be really present to assess

they have to be really present to assess the room within two seconds and address

the room within two seconds and address

the room within two seconds and address it correctly because the moment before

it correctly because the moment before

it correctly because the moment before can be filled with pain and fear and

can be filled with pain and fear and

can be filled with pain and fear and fighting and tears and the moment after

fighting and tears and the moment after

fighting and tears and the moment after can be filled with more suffering and

can be filled with more suffering and

can be filled with more suffering and sometimes nothingness it’s the present

sometimes nothingness it’s the present

sometimes nothingness it’s the present that we have the power over that’s when

that we have the power over that’s when

that we have the power over that’s when the clown magic happens

the clown magic happens

the clown magic happens and I’ve seen it I followed a clown into

and I’ve seen it I followed a clown into

and I’ve seen it I followed a clown into a patient’s room isolation unit actually

a patient’s room isolation unit actually

a patient’s room isolation unit actually in the cancer ward a man in his 60s

in the cancer ward a man in his 60s

in the cancer ward a man in his 60s after bone marrow transplantation

after bone marrow transplantation

after bone marrow transplantation attached to a morphine sack with 50/50

attached to a morphine sack with 50/50

attached to a morphine sack with 50/50 chances of survival moaning from pain

chances of survival moaning from pain

chances of survival moaning from pain clown breaks into it silly cannabis for

clown breaks into it silly cannabis for

clown breaks into it silly cannabis for air song and moments later the guy joins

air song and moments later the guy joins

air song and moments later the guy joins her did the prayer save his life no he

her did the prayer save his life no he

her did the prayer save his life no he didn’t make it into the right 50% but

didn’t make it into the right 50% but

didn’t make it into the right 50% but then and there in that moment it made

then and there in that moment it made

then and there in that moment it made all the difference not only for him but

all the difference not only for him but

all the difference not only for him but also for his family and the memories

also for his family and the memories

also for his family and the memories that they get to have for the rest of

that they get to have for the rest of

that they get to have for the rest of their lives and often times those

their lives and often times those

their lives and often times those situations are really really difficult

situations are really really difficult

situations are really really difficult on the families

on the families

on the families there’s been some mentions here people

there’s been some mentions here people

there’s been some mentions here people don’t know how to be people don’t know

don’t know how to be people don’t know

don’t know how to be people don’t know how to be present for their loved ones

how to be present for their loved ones

how to be present for their loved ones it’s really hard I’ve been there and

it’s really hard I’ve been there and

it’s really hard I’ve been there and what people do they build walls of

what people do they build walls of

what people do they build walls of complacency and denial to protect

complacency and denial to protect

complacency and denial to protect themselves and then they regret for the

themselves and then they regret for the

themselves and then they regret for the rest of their lives one of the clowns

rest of their lives one of the clowns

rest of their lives one of the clowns told me a story he worked with a patient

told me a story he worked with a patient

told me a story he worked with a patient who was dying from cancer and he wanted

who was dying from cancer and he wanted

who was dying from cancer and he wanted to talk to his children about it and

to talk to his children about it and

to talk to his children about it and they would just brush it off Oh what are

they would just brush it off Oh what are

they would just brush it off Oh what are you talking about it’s nonsense

you talking about it’s nonsense

you talking about it’s nonsense you’re gonna get better soon just stay

you’re gonna get better soon just stay

you’re gonna get better soon just stay positive you’re gonna get better soon

positive you’re gonna get better soon

positive you’re gonna get better soon and he knew he was not gonna get better

and he knew he was not gonna get better

and he knew he was not gonna get better soon he was gonna die soon and he had to

soon he was gonna die soon and he had to

soon he was gonna die soon and he had to talk to them about it and they wouldn’t

talk to them about it and they wouldn’t

talk to them about it and they wouldn’t so he turned to the clown and said man

so he turned to the clown and said man

so he turned to the clown and said man you know I’m gonna stop 14 soon and the

you know I’m gonna stop 14 soon and the

you know I’m gonna stop 14 soon and the clown knew exactly what the man told him

clown knew exactly what the man told him

clown knew exactly what the man told him he said oh how sad I love your farts I’m

he said oh how sad I love your farts I’m

he said oh how sad I love your farts I’m gonna miss them so much and then he

gonna miss them so much and then he

gonna miss them so much and then he turned to the kids I said aren’t you

turned to the kids I said aren’t you

turned to the kids I said aren’t you gonna miss them and they went on and on

gonna miss them and they went on and on

gonna miss them and they went on and on and on with that stupid joke about farts

and on with that stupid joke about farts

and on with that stupid joke about farts but being adults they all knew what

but being adults they all knew what

but being adults they all knew what they’re really talking about and if you

they’re really talking about and if you

they’re really talking about and if you cannot utter the word death and you have

cannot utter the word death and you have

cannot utter the word death and you have to say fart better and in that moment

to say fart better and in that moment

to say fart better and in that moment the clown helped bring that family into

the clown helped bring that family into

the clown helped bring that family into the present and be there for each other

the present and be there for each other

the present and be there for each other so be present every moment is precious

so be present every moment is precious

so be present every moment is precious lesson number three give up your social

lesson number three give up your social

lesson number three give up your social status that’s my favorite don’t we all

status that’s my favorite don’t we all

status that’s my favorite don’t we all love our social statuses wear this so

love our social statuses wear this so

love our social statuses wear this so that race nationality religion party

that race nationality religion party

that race nationality religion party class we buy all of our trinkets to

class we buy all of our trinkets to

class we buy all of our trinkets to belong to the right sliver that we want

belong to the right sliver that we want

belong to the right sliver that we want to belong and we feel really comfortable

to belong and we feel really comfortable

to belong and we feel really comfortable we feel very happy to know that we are

we feel very happy to know that we are

we feel very happy to know that we are not them right but this is how the

not them right but this is how the

not them right but this is how the society begins to divide the clown the

society begins to divide the clown the

society begins to divide the clown the gesture doesn’t apply any of those

gesture doesn’t apply any of those

gesture doesn’t apply any of those definition to himself he’s outside the

definition to himself he’s outside the

definition to himself he’s outside the grid one with everyone he doesn’t ignore

grid one with everyone he doesn’t ignore

grid one with everyone he doesn’t ignore the definitions that others apply to

the definitions that others apply to

the definitions that others apply to themselves but he reaches right past

themselves but he reaches right past

themselves but he reaches right past them to the human essence of the person

them to the human essence of the person

them to the human essence of the person that’s what he talks to

that’s what he talks to

that’s what he talks to that’s what responds to him the clown

that’s what responds to him the clown

that’s what responds to him the clown almost doesn’t look like quite a human

almost doesn’t look like quite a human

almost doesn’t look like quite a human once the nose is on it’s a creature

once the nose is on it’s a creature

once the nose is on it’s a creature right certainly not an adult children

right certainly not an adult children

right certainly not an adult children view the clown as a superhero oh my god

view the clown as a superhero oh my god

view the clown as a superhero oh my god he’s unafraid of doctors he does the

he’s unafraid of doctors he does the

he’s unafraid of doctors he does the most outrageous things and gets away

most outrageous things and gets away

most outrageous things and gets away unpunished

unpunished

unpunished whoa adults see him as a fool who they

whoa adults see him as a fool who they

whoa adults see him as a fool who they can share the deepest fears with and not

can share the deepest fears with and not

can share the deepest fears with and not be judged in Israel this ability to be

be judged in Israel this ability to be

be judged in Israel this ability to be one with everyone has an extra value see

one with everyone has an extra value see

one with everyone has an extra value see the society is as fractured as it is

the society is as fractured as it is

the society is as fractured as it is diverse and in the hospital

diverse and in the hospital

diverse and in the hospital everybody’s cramped together religious

everybody’s cramped together religious

everybody’s cramped together religious and secular people Arabs and Jews

and secular people Arabs and Jews

and secular people Arabs and Jews Russian immigrants in Ethiopian

Russian immigrants in Ethiopian

Russian immigrants in Ethiopian immigrants people don’t even speak the

immigrants people don’t even speak the

immigrants people don’t even speak the same language but they have to share the

same language but they have to share the

same language but they have to share the hospital rooms in the moments of crisis

hospital rooms in the moments of crisis

hospital rooms in the moments of crisis gibberish comes in very handy and so

gibberish comes in very handy and so

gibberish comes in very handy and so does this ability of connecting and

does this ability of connecting and

does this ability of connecting and being one with everyone a girl clown

being one with everyone a girl clown

being one with everyone a girl clown told me a story

told me a story

told me a story she lives not far from Jerusalem with

she lives not far from Jerusalem with

she lives not far from Jerusalem with her husband and kids in one of the

her husband and kids in one of the

her husband and kids in one of the settlements which is a disputed

settlements which is a disputed

settlements which is a disputed territory between Arabs and Jews

territory between Arabs and Jews

territory between Arabs and Jews she works in a hospital nearby and she

she works in a hospital nearby and she

she works in a hospital nearby and she became particularly friendly women with

became particularly friendly women with

became particularly friendly women with one Arab family who were there with

one Arab family who were there with

one Arab family who were there with their young kid one day she was driving

their young kid one day she was driving

their young kid one day she was driving home and she saw them at the bus stop

home and she saw them at the bus stop

home and she saw them at the bus stop and she knew that from that bus stop

and she knew that from that bus stop

and she knew that from that bus stop they could only be going to that same

they could only be going to that same

they could only be going to that same village where she lives she knew they

village where she lives she knew they

village where she lives she knew they were her neighbors for a moment she

were her neighbors for a moment she

were her neighbors for a moment she hesitated so I give

hesitated so I give

hesitated so I give the ride or not it said she decided not

the ride or not it said she decided not

the ride or not it said she decided not to and she felt guilty but she knew that

to and she felt guilty but she knew that

to and she felt guilty but she knew that if the family were to find out that

if the family were to find out that

if the family were to find out that she’s a Jewish settler that the clown

she’s a Jewish settler that the clown

she’s a Jewish settler that the clown who their kid is playing with is on the

who their kid is playing with is on the

who their kid is playing with is on the other side the kid would lose a friend

other side the kid would lose a friend

other side the kid would lose a friend and the family would lose the support so

and the family would lose the support so

and the family would lose the support so she chose to keep her clown anonymous so

she chose to keep her clown anonymous so

she chose to keep her clown anonymous so when social divides are out of the

when social divides are out of the

when social divides are out of the picture that’s when the real human

picture that’s when the real human

picture that’s when the real human connection can be made that’s a hard one

connection can be made that’s a hard one

connection can be made that’s a hard one right throw away your you go we don’t

right throw away your you go we don’t

right throw away your you go we don’t like that one but truly throw it away

like that one but truly throw it away

like that one but truly throw it away for a moment drop it won’t break its ego

for a moment drop it won’t break its ego

for a moment drop it won’t break its ego not an egg that’s what clowns do when

not an egg that’s what clowns do when

not an egg that’s what clowns do when they walk into the patient’s room they

they walk into the patient’s room they

they walk into the patient’s room they don’t come in to impose their act on

don’t come in to impose their act on

don’t come in to impose their act on their audience that would be rather rude

their audience that would be rather rude

their audience that would be rather rude the audience didn’t buy the tickets to

the audience didn’t buy the tickets to

the audience didn’t buy the tickets to that show they’re trapped there I can’t

that show they’re trapped there I can’t

that show they’re trapped there I can’t leave so the clown has to tune in into

leave so the clown has to tune in into

leave so the clown has to tune in into what they really need in that moment and

what they really need in that moment and

what they really need in that moment and create a tailor-made piece of art for

create a tailor-made piece of art for

create a tailor-made piece of art for them right there the part of the beauty

them right there the part of the beauty

them right there the part of the beauty of clowning in the hospital is that the

of clowning in the hospital is that the

of clowning in the hospital is that the act wouldn’t even exist without the

act wouldn’t even exist without the

act wouldn’t even exist without the audience there’s no stage no fourth wall

audience there’s no stage no fourth wall

audience there’s no stage no fourth wall to break the audience is right there

to break the audience is right there

to break the audience is right there they are part to creating that moment

they are part to creating that moment

they are part to creating that moment and whatever is happening with them

and whatever is happening with them

and whatever is happening with them becomes the art and there’s a lot of

becomes the art and there’s a lot of

becomes the art and there’s a lot of negativity in the hospital a lot of fear

negativity in the hospital a lot of fear

negativity in the hospital a lot of fear anger frustration and it all has to come

anger frustration and it all has to come

anger frustration and it all has to come out it’s very apparent with the kids

out it’s very apparent with the kids

out it’s very apparent with the kids because they don’t even understand why

because they don’t even understand why

because they don’t even understand why they have to be there why do I have to

they have to be there why do I have to

they have to be there why do I have to wait why do I have to suffer why and

wait why do I have to suffer why and

wait why do I have to suffer why and where the adult can be well I’m not

where the adult can be well I’m not

where the adult can be well I’m not happy with the management of this

happy with the management of this

happy with the management of this hospital I’m gonna file a complaint the

hospital I’m gonna file a complaint the

hospital I’m gonna file a complaint the kid’s gonna just scream his lungs out so

kid’s gonna just scream his lungs out so

kid’s gonna just scream his lungs out so when the clown works with a kid he

when the clown works with a kid he

when the clown works with a kid he always either crouches or goes on his

always either crouches or goes on his

always either crouches or goes on his knees to be on the same level to be with

knees to be on the same level to be with

knees to be on the same level to be with him and he will allow the kid destroy

him and he will allow the kid destroy

him and he will allow the kid destroy his costume

his costume

his costume and make up and hit him actually one of

and make up and hit him actually one of

and make up and hit him actually one of our clowns who have been following he

our clowns who have been following he

our clowns who have been following he walks around the hospital with a hollow

walks around the hospital with a hollow

walks around the hospital with a hollow plastic baseball bat God does he get hit

plastic baseball bat God does he get hit

plastic baseball bat God does he get hit dozens times a day because kids are

dozens times a day because kids are

dozens times a day because kids are frustrated and he’s willing to take it

frustrated and he’s willing to take it

frustrated and he’s willing to take it so that another kid doesn’t have to with

so that another kid doesn’t have to with

so that another kid doesn’t have to with adults it’s a slightly more refined game

adults it’s a slightly more refined game

adults it’s a slightly more refined game but the essence is the same the clown’s

but the essence is the same the clown’s

but the essence is the same the clown’s just create an environment where the

just create an environment where the

just create an environment where the person can express whatever is happening

person can express whatever is happening

person can express whatever is happening with them one of the clowns the same guy

with them one of the clowns the same guy

with them one of the clowns the same guy who did the 14-bit he works a lot with

who did the 14-bit he works a lot with

who did the 14-bit he works a lot with adult patients who go through chemo it’s

adult patients who go through chemo it’s

adult patients who go through chemo it’s a long process so he has to build a

a long process so he has to build a

a long process so he has to build a relationship over time and the way he

relationship over time and the way he

relationship over time and the way he does it is through creating art together

does it is through creating art together

does it is through creating art together and most those people have never created

and most those people have never created

and most those people have never created any art before and what they do is songs

any art before and what they do is songs

any art before and what they do is songs and plays and little videos and through

and plays and little videos and through

and plays and little videos and through those pieces the patients get to express

those pieces the patients get to express

those pieces the patients get to express their fear they talk about their disease

their fear they talk about their disease

their fear they talk about their disease they talk about their relationships and

they talk about their relationships and

they talk about their relationships and the clown is always in the background

the clown is always in the background

the clown is always in the background letting the patient to shine in all

letting the patient to shine in all

letting the patient to shine in all those videos because he knows it’s not

those videos because he knows it’s not

those videos because he knows it’s not about him and believe me the artists ego

about him and believe me the artists ego

about him and believe me the artists ego is alive and well in clowns I know all

is alive and well in clowns I know all

is alive and well in clowns I know all about him they’re not monks but when in

about him they’re not monks but when in

about him they’re not monks but when in hospital when with the patient they will

hospital when with the patient they will

hospital when with the patient they will take whatever they have to take and give

take whatever they have to take and give

take whatever they have to take and give whatever they can to support the patient

whatever they can to support the patient

whatever they can to support the patient because they know that when you make the

because they know that when you make the

because they know that when you make the other person feel like they’re the most

other person feel like they’re the most

other person feel like they’re the most important person in the world that’s

important person in the world that’s

important person in the world that’s when they open up that’s when you can

when they open up that’s when you can

when they open up that’s when you can really connect that’s when you can

really connect that’s when you can

really connect that’s when you can really feel alive and it goes both ways

really feel alive and it goes both ways

really feel alive and it goes both ways for the patient and for the clown don’t

for the patient and for the clown don’t

for the patient and for the clown don’t know say I don’t know it’s the biggest

know say I don’t know it’s the biggest

know say I don’t know it’s the biggest motivational speaker cliche right it is

motivational speaker cliche right it is

motivational speaker cliche right it is so for a reason because in order to

so for a reason because in order to

so for a reason because in order to learn anything you need to say I don’t

learn anything you need to say I don’t

learn anything you need to say I don’t know

know

know need to find out in order to fix a

need to find out in order to fix a

need to find out in order to fix a mistake you need to say I don’t know

mistake you need to say I don’t know

mistake you need to say I don’t know maybe I messed up in order to feel you

maybe I messed up in order to feel you

maybe I messed up in order to feel you need to say I don’t know and it doesn’t

need to say I don’t know and it doesn’t

need to say I don’t know and it doesn’t matter to go beyond you need to forget

matter to go beyond you need to forget

matter to go beyond you need to forget the limits you need to not know the

the limits you need to not know the

the limits you need to not know the limits and the clowns are real pros at

limits and the clowns are real pros at

limits and the clowns are real pros at that they they’re not into the knowing

that they they’re not into the knowing

that they they’re not into the knowing stuff because knowing just disturbs the

stuff because knowing just disturbs the

stuff because knowing just disturbs the imagination and in the hospital

imagination and in the hospital

imagination and in the hospital the knowing can be particularly heavy

the knowing can be particularly heavy

the knowing can be particularly heavy and it’s the clown’s job to lift that

and it’s the clown’s job to lift that

and it’s the clown’s job to lift that heaviness one of the clowns told me a

heaviness one of the clowns told me a

heaviness one of the clowns told me a story about how he danced with a

story about how he danced with a

story about how he danced with a paralyzed woman she had control over

paralyzed woman she had control over

paralyzed woman she had control over half of her face and some sensation in

half of her face and some sensation in

half of her face and some sensation in her hand he walked in he saw her and he

her hand he walked in he saw her and he

her hand he walked in he saw her and he said oh my god let’s dance

said oh my god let’s dance

said oh my god let’s dance clearly as an adult man he knows she

clearly as an adult man he knows she

clearly as an adult man he knows she can’t dance but as a clown he chose not

can’t dance but as a clown he chose not

can’t dance but as a clown he chose not to know it she rejected him all of a

to know it she rejected him all of a

to know it she rejected him all of a sudden all the power is in her corner

sudden all the power is in her corner

sudden all the power is in her corner he’s heartbroken how come I’m not good

he’s heartbroken how come I’m not good

he’s heartbroken how come I’m not good enough am I not dressed to the occasion

enough am I not dressed to the occasion

enough am I not dressed to the occasion took him days but he made her he

took him days but he made her he

took him days but he made her he convinced her to dance with him granted

convinced her to dance with him granted

convinced her to dance with him granted that hand did most of the physical

that hand did most of the physical

that hand did most of the physical movement but they danced because he

movement but they danced because he

movement but they danced because he didn’t know it was impossible see the

didn’t know it was impossible see the

didn’t know it was impossible see the clown’s don’t rely on knowledge they’re

clown’s don’t rely on knowledge they’re

clown’s don’t rely on knowledge they’re fools they think with their heart and

fools they think with their heart and

fools they think with their heart and finally poke the King the clown’s have

finally poke the King the clown’s have

finally poke the King the clown’s have taught me that there is an inherent

taught me that there is an inherent

taught me that there is an inherent value to mischeif to disrupting the

value to mischeif to disrupting the

value to mischeif to disrupting the order disturbing the rules and this is

order disturbing the rules and this is

order disturbing the rules and this is what brought us here from the caves if

what brought us here from the caves if

what brought us here from the caves if not for that spirit we would have been

not for that spirit we would have been

not for that spirit we would have been still living in the caves and we are all

still living in the caves and we are all

still living in the caves and we are all born with that spirit of challenging the

born with that spirit of challenging the

born with that spirit of challenging the boundaries and exploring ask any parent

boundaries and exploring ask any parent

boundaries and exploring ask any parent of a five-year-old all they do is

of a five-year-old all they do is

of a five-year-old all they do is challenge the boundaries but by the time

challenge the boundaries but by the time

challenge the boundaries but by the time would grow up we know the boundaries all

would grow up we know the boundaries all

would grow up we know the boundaries all too well we don’t even care to test them

too well we don’t even care to test them

too well we don’t even care to test them anymore

anymore

anymore well what a pity Galileo Einstein Warhol

well what a pity Galileo Einstein Warhol

well what a pity Galileo Einstein Warhol Steve Jobs were not clowns yet they knew

Steve Jobs were not clowns yet they knew

Steve Jobs were not clowns yet they knew the value of challenging the order

the value of challenging the order

the value of challenging the order expanding the boundaries they had the

expanding the boundaries they had the

expanding the boundaries they had the clown spirit that’s for sure

clown spirit that’s for sure

clown spirit that’s for sure and clowns themselves they don’t have an

and clowns themselves they don’t have an

and clowns themselves they don’t have an on and off button

on and off button

on and off button they’re just dial up or dial down a

they’re just dial up or dial down a

they’re just dial up or dial down a little bit but they take that clown

little bit but they take that clown

little bit but they take that clown spirit into all of their life situations

spirit into all of their life situations

spirit into all of their life situations they have told me how they used it at

they have told me how they used it at

they have told me how they used it at the bank in the army the divorce court

the bank in the army the divorce court

the bank in the army the divorce court at the office at their boss at the

at the office at their boss at the

at the office at their boss at the hospital and one of them told me you

hospital and one of them told me you

hospital and one of them told me you know when I see a rule when I see a

know when I see a rule when I see a

know when I see a rule when I see a boundary what I do is I stand right at

boundary what I do is I stand right at

boundary what I do is I stand right at the very edge and I put my foot in front

the very edge and I put my foot in front

the very edge and I put my foot in front of me and I smile and more often than

of me and I smile and more often than

of me and I smile and more often than not the boundary bends so Bouck the king

not the boundary bends so Bouck the king

not the boundary bends so Bouck the king it’s liberating thank you

it’s liberating thank you

it’s liberating thank you [Applause]