Programming and Special Event Planning From theory to practice

Questions for the day: What is programming? Why provide programs? What do they offer consumers? How do programmers decide what to offer? How can program theories be used in practice? What programming theories appeal to you? Why?

Programming definitions: According to Carpenter & Howe, 1985: "Programming, a continual process of planning, implementing, and evaluating leisure experiences for an individual or a group of individuals is unique to the body of knowledge in parks, recreation and leisure services". According to Kraus, 1997: "Programming is the process that uses the human, fiscal and other physical resources of an agency to provide recreation and leisure activities and services to community residents or to members of an organization". According to Rossman, 1989: “Programming... is the development of leisure opportunities by manipulating and creating environments to maximize the probability that participants will find the satisfaction they seek”.

According to Bullaro and Edginton, 1986: “Creating the leisure experience involves arranging for or assisting people to be placed in a social, physical, or natural environment. This may involve planning and organizing, assembling materials and supplies, arranging the use of facilities, providing leadership of other actions that lead to the creation of opportunities for leisure “. According to Farrell & Lundegren, 1991: “Program.... encompasses a) the activity in which people participate, b) the facility that enables the experience to take place, and c) the leadership that has been responsible for facilitating this experience”. According to Russell, 1982: “Programs are those magic moments of joyous participation that occur when the available and necessary resources have been stirred together just right by planning. But programs do not just happen because planning does not just happen. Planning is organized forethought”. What is your definition of programming?

Why provide programs? What do they offer consumers? Recreation and tourism experiences provide benefits to people. Many people do not know how to access recreation and tourism experiences themselves. Programmers provide recreation and tourism experiences through programs – which in turn, provide benefits to consumers. So – the product you are providing is an experience. You manufacture that experience in a program and provide it to those who need the benefits.

Nature of the experience (product) you are providing. p It is intangible Each experience is different It is produced and consumed at the same time It is perishable What does this mean if you are manufacturing leisure experiences as a programmer?

How do programmers decide what to offer? Remember – there are many strategies that can be used to decide what programs should be offered (p-29). Look at page 29 for an overview of recreation and tourism strategies. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of some of these strategies? Which ones appeal to you? Note: As practitioners we have been moving more towards providing programs WITH people instead of FOR people (p- 30). Depending on the type of organization you work for – you will likely use a different approach to programming. Example: private sector often uses a marketing approach, public sector often uses a direct planning approach, not for profit sector often uses a community development approach.

How can program theories be used in practice? “We develop a process, which results in a product, that enables the interaction of participants to achieve some benefit through leisure. We can undertake this effort in a variety of manners – by using a cafeteria style, a traditional approach, programming by objectives, and others” (DeGraaf, et al., 1999, p: 41).

Theories and Models: Help us understand why we do what we do, or how we do what we do. Let’s discuss a few from Chapt. 3: Systems theory – programmers input resources (supplies, facility, instructor, schedule etc.) and use a process to achieve some outputs (I.e. leisure experiences). Benefits driven model (Benefits Based Management BBM): focus on the output of programming to be benefits (individual, social, economic and environmental).

More theories and models… Special events model: suggests that most special events follow a traditional programming format but use more of a flow chart of tasks that need to be completed at specific times (p.46 examples). Flow theory: suggests that programmers should seek to provide experiences for people that match their skill level to challenges = flow. Motivation based theories: suggest that programmers should respond to, and provide experiences that meet people needs.

More theories and models… Symbolic interaction theory: suggests that programmers need to understand participants and human behavior when designing experiences. Remembers that people are a part of the actual experience. Sociocultural theory: suggests that programmers need to understand the influences that society places on people and provide experiences that enhance society. Comprehensive theory: suggests that programmers combine a little of everything into what they do – understanding of human behaviour, history, sociology, systems theory etc.)

Theory to practice… “ Program theories are the underlying structure of what we do as park, recreation and [tourism] professionals. The theory we utilize to help us understand programming provides the framework on which we fashion and accomplish our programming tasks. The theory we buy into drives the focus and direction of our work” (DeGraaf et al., 1999, p-52).

Question… What theories or models appeal to you? Why? How will you use them to guide your efforts as a programmer? Next day… Chapter four – What drives programmers and special event planners? Think about homework assignment #1