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funniesforfamilies357 karma

Thank you, we agree about the aid. We have seen first-hand how effective it can be for people going through their toughest times.

To answer your question, there have been many times that we couldn't lift someone's spirits or make them laugh... but in those times we remind ourselves we aren't just a comedy show. We're also a break for the whole family to stop thinking about treatment for a few minutes. I like to think that even if people aren't laughing, they are still focusing on something else and getting some respite.

Also, sometimes we might just be a distraction that gives parents who are stressed beyond belief a minute to sit down. Most of the time parents are laughing along, but sometimes they are literally resting their eyes in the back.

- Rock

funniesforfamilies130 karma

Great question.

Yes, definitely. A big struggle is compassion or empathy fatigue. Basically that means ordinary things that we would normally need to care about - a deadline at our day job or a friend telling us about an argument with their roommate - become very difficult to care about when compared with the realities we face at our shows.

We have taken courses and met with professionals to combat that and we also share those resources with our comedian volunteers.

  • Rock

funniesforfamilies113 karma

Compliments!

Especially about ideas and efforts.

Compliments to kids about their ideas. Compliments to parents about their kid’s imagination or efforts that day.

Everyone has something they’re trying to be good at or recognized for. Parents and kids feel special when that thing is noticed and called out.

  • Kristie

funniesforfamilies90 karma

I'll add that we do our best to aid the mental health of our comedian volunteers. Every show begins in a brief where we talk about our day and our headspace, and ends with a debrief where we talk about the show, the audience and how we're feeling.

9.9 times out of 10 its just an ordinary conversation, but sometimes its all tears.

- Rock

funniesforfamilies72 karma

We are very lucky to experience heartwarming stories and rewarding moments every week!

There was a show recently at a palliative care hospice where we invited a kiddo to play a game with us - Pillars. In that game, the comedians do a scene and point to the audience volunteer to finish their sentences.

This young person had a delay due to their affliction, but played the game so well and got big laughs from their responses.

There was a really sweet moment where they weren’t ready for the next prompt because they were looking around taking in the laughs they were getting.

  • Kristie