Gratitude for the power of
the through laughter program
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"Today we had, as a workshop presenter at the Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley, Pam Victor of Through Laughter and Happier Valley Comedy School, on the topic CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION THROUGH LAUGHTER: USING IMPROV TO IMPROVE YOUR WORK. She was superb: very clear on how and why improve skills can improve thinking in life and work; an amazing leader of a wide selection of fun games, each successfully communicating the point; a strong talent in getting various kinds of people to take a risk and jump in; and she was, herself, a wonderful example of how improv can make you a person who is alive and creating, on her feet. I would recommend Pam as a presenter to whomever is bringing in trainers, or trying to make their organization more effective in thinking, collaborating, changing their outlook to positive, and on and on. Please do not hesitate to contact me for even more praise for Pam Victor."
-Ira Bryck, Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley, fambizpv.com |
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"Pam clearly reads her audience well, and had of team of skeptics not only laughing and participating, but also actively using the principles of the workshop within hours of her departure. Our company is going through rapid change, and the FUNdamental concepts are extremely beneficial to help us move forward together. Also, we need to access our place of pure creativity on a daily basis, and this workshop gave us new tools to use in order to do that ourselves and encourage others in to do it. I have never participated in a workshop that was so thoroughly applicable to our daily life, work, and relationships. The return on investment was clear immediately."
-Meghan Lynch, CEO, Six-Point Creative |
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"You really made the retreat a success and folks have commented that this was one of the most energizing and enjoyable retreats they’ve been to. A couple folks noted that this was the “best retreat” they’ve ever been to! ...I would agree, that we were 100% successful."
- Gina L Luciano, MD, FACP, Baystate Health Center "Pam’s workshop brought new light to critical elements of successful team practices and communication opportunities. Pam was thoughtful and engaging, setting at ease both introverts and extroverts in her activities. Since we worked with Pam, my team has drawn on her workshop lessons many times to help frame feedback and motivate change. Pam is a true professional in her craft, and I am looking forward to the next opportunity to learn from her!"
- Rebecca D. Blanchard, PhD Director of Healthcare Education/Baystate Health "Pam is a skilled improv teacher who brings depth and breadth to her workshops. She helps walk us through assumptions misperceptions and judgment and helps us land in openness insight laughter and greater "ease fullness" Highly recommend."
- Dr. Rob Smith, DO, Director of Baystate Health’s Mindfulness Programs |
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"The presentation opened up creative process between people by promoting listening and encouraging thinking rather than shutting down with exceptions and buts. It helped us to free up our more playful and creative brain."
- Seth Dunn, Director of Quality |
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"What an awesome experience for my team. The lessons were applicable and still resonate today...I think this has been one of the most positive and influential things we have done as a group. Yes, and I loved it. Yes, and I learned. Yes, and every office should take time for this!”
-Kirsten Modestow, Executive Creative Director, BRIGADE |
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"Pam prioritized learning about the group and the needs and goals for the session. She seems to have a million different activities up her sleeve and put together just the right combination for our group. The staff raved about her session and continued to cite key phrases she taught for several weeks following. The staff really felt connected to Pam because of her presentation style. She is real, fun, funny, and inspirational. We will have her back again next year!"
-Mandy Anderson, Director, Summer Programs and Conference Services at Smith College "Pam Victor's Presentation Through Laughter workshop shifted the mood in our department. I saw my co-workers become less circumspect and more willing to share new ideas in meetings. And I have noticed people publicly acknowledging unexpected 'mistakes' in their presentations with a sense of humor instead of frustration and fear..This workshop was taught me that being kind and empathic to myself does not get in the way of helping others - it can actually make me more effective because I am staying aware and listening to what is really going on."
- Miriam Neptune, Smith College Reference Librarian "I love working with Pam in developing the right kind of program for my group. She asked great questions about the group dynamics and how her program could be of the most benefit. She was able to get an entire group (with many introverts) up, active and engaged. We have been talking about the experience ever since! I highly recommend bringing Pam as part of a team building exercise. You will have fun, laugh, learn, and come out with some great communication skills." -Kate Harrington, Senior Human Resources Specialist, Office of Human Resources, Smith College |
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"The THROUGH LAUGHTER workshops create a fast-paced, energizing and insightful learning environment. Using the techniques of improvisation, participants can explore the dynamics of effective communication, successful collaboration, creativity and more. The sessions offer lessons and skills that are readily transferable to workplace settings. Perhaps of equal importance, the sessions are filled with laughter which enables the learning to happen in an atmosphere of exploration and fun."
- Stephen Butler, Trainer and OD Specialist for Amherst College |
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"Thank you for coming out to Amherst [College] last week and working with our students ... students found your workshop very valuable. From their comments about quieting their judgmental voices, reframing failure, and being in the moment, it’s pretty evident that your messages were heard and remembered. Students were also clear that they thought you would be a great facilitator to bring back to campus, whether in the context of the Job Search Boot Camp, or for something else...I’m definitely interested in working with you again, and will be in touch as opportunities arise. Thank you again."
-Kali Odell, Assistant Director for Career Advising Amherst College Career Center |
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" Our students loved this event! ... I'm a true believer in the power of improv to give students the confidence they need to be successful in their job search. Pam connected with everyone in the room, had us laughing and learning, and made this one of our best career events of the year. I especially liked how a passerby in the hallway during the YAY activity said, 'Now that sounds like great teaching!' I agree."
-Brian Krusell, Director of College of Information and Computer Sciences Careers, University of Massachusetts (Amherst) "It was a nice opportunity to meet other faculty and staff from around the university and engage in honest, refreshing and humorous reflections on the challenges and joys of worklife at UMass. I walked away feeling a little more gratitude for my colleagues and a better understanding of the particular challenges they face. " -Jennifer Lundquist, Senior Associate Dean of SBS, Professor of Sociology |
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"The Innovation and Creativity Through Laughter workshop was a great team building activity for our remote sales team. A big takeaway for the team was the idea of disempowering failure and saying no to that voice of doubt that can creep in. This was a fun way to build confidence!”
- Emily Negard, Director of Partner Communications, University Relations Team, CISabroad |
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"We came, we laughed, and we learned! We participated in seven communication fundamentals that with the physical involvement - standing, clapping, observing - helped reinforce and remind our team what is important when it comes to communication. This was extremely helpful and was a great team building exercise. All staff members enjoyed being a part of this workshop."
- Mary Jo Murphy, Executive Director, Snow Farm |
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"Pam’s presentation was inspirational and empowering! ... The Through Laughter program encourages mindfulness and helps to build lasting communication skills. I would HIGHLY recommend bringing Pam into your business and/or event! You and your guests will be forever grateful!"
- Michele Martinez, AVP Closing Operations, Polish National Credit Union |
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"Pam Victor’s workshop, Communication Through Laughter, was creative, motivating, funny, and fun. Her innovative and non-threatening approach brought a great deal of insight and connection to our team. Anyone who has ever wanted to gain a deeper understanding of how they communicate best and how they can relate to others would benefit from this workshop. Pam’s facilitation style is the perfect combination of encouragement and excitement. We can’t wait to do this again!"
-Lisa Ekus, founder of The Lisa Ekus Group "After working with Pam and her Through Laugh program, it is clear that our team communicates more effectively and our team makes decisions faster and with more joy." -Sally Ekus, manager and literary agent for the Lisa Ekus Group |
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“Communication Through Laughter provided a fun and insightful way of building our new team at a staff retreat. Weaving together fun games and simple observations, Pam taught us techniques to put aside our judgments and bring out the creativity of the group in our shared work.”
-Heidi Nortonsmith, Executive Director of the Northampton Survival Center |
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"After taking a mindfulness stress reduction class last winter, I knew staying in the moment was important, but with meditation my mind wanders. With improv, I am am able to be in the moment without even trying! It is so easy and fun ...We are focused and yet we laugh and connect, and Pam gives us plenty of opportunity to reflect on our experience too ... I use what I've learned everyday in my career and family: relating to what is happening here and now, responding instead of reacting. Pam is an amazing teacher and understands how to apply improv to life. We are so fortunate to have her in the Valley!"
-Dr. Sue Keller, Owner of Strong and Healthy Smiles |
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"The response to your workshop has been overwhelmingly positive. For many of the participants, it was about the level of comfort and the laughter. I had the most fun I've had in a while."
-Anita L. Mitchell, correctional nurse |
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"Improv has helped me be more present and focused on what’s happening right now. Not tomorrow, not six weeks from now, but right now. It has also helped me handle failure and mistakes better by showing me that those outcomes are part of the process, not a signal that I’m weak or doing it wrong. I feel more creative, more energetic, and more focused every day. These changes have significantly helped my business and my clients!"
- Angela Lussier, Founder, Speaker Sisterhood and Speaking School for Women |
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"Pam's workshop was very uplifting and positive. We asked for feedback and our most skeptical people even thought it was great."
-Jeffrey Glaze, President/CEO, EpiCenter |
from presentation skills through laughter participants
"[Pam] was really great, and clearly has a deep knowledge of how to get people to look at their processes, and at the myriad ways we scold ourselves into worse performance."
"I felt that Pam did a great job making herself relatable, which helped people feel more comfortable from the start. But, I think the most successful part was how failure was reframed into something that doesn't have to create anxiety. You could tell from everyone's demeanor how meaningful that piece of information was."
"The low bar for physical participation was helpful, and some of the specific techniques we learned about through practice were very valuable. Sharing the 'Yay!' was terrific."
"It was a good balance of pushing out of our comfort zones while respecting our boundaries."
"I think that we have a work culture that centers fear and doesn't encourage healthy risk-taking; this workshop really helped me vault over those harmful inhibitions."
"I felt that Pam did a great job making herself relatable, which helped people feel more comfortable from the start. But, I think the most successful part was how failure was reframed into something that doesn't have to create anxiety. You could tell from everyone's demeanor how meaningful that piece of information was."
"The low bar for physical participation was helpful, and some of the specific techniques we learned about through practice were very valuable. Sharing the 'Yay!' was terrific."
"It was a good balance of pushing out of our comfort zones while respecting our boundaries."
"I think that we have a work culture that centers fear and doesn't encourage healthy risk-taking; this workshop really helped me vault over those harmful inhibitions."
