Part 1: Project Scope

This project will be an event planning 101 for dancers wanting to host their own dance events for the first time. It will teach the dancer organizers the ins and outs of budgeting, legal considerations, and other aspects of planning a dance event. I will storyboard the entire course.

Part 2: Background

1. Problem Statement: Many dance organizers start as dancers themselves and then decide to start their own communities or host their own events. Most of these organizers have no knowledge of how to plan events  resulting in unsafe or unethical practices. This course will walk learners step by step through event planning best practices for hosting events safely and legally. The Level 4 Result will be planning and at least breaking even on the learner’s first dance event from start to finish.

2. Project Objectives (strategic/organizational): This course will help dance organizers run safe and fun dance events for their communities by giving them the tools and skills they need.

Level 4: Leading Indicators

• Internal:
  •  Volume/Production: Complete the learner’s first event
  • Cost: Breaking even on the learner’s first event
• External:
  • Compliment to Complaint Ratio: More Neutral/Positive feedback than Negative feedback from event attendees
  • Sales Volume: Increased ticket sales to recurring events
  • Sales Volume: Increase in new ticket buyers
  • External “Buzz”: Positive social media posts about the event

Level 3: Required Drivers

• Support
  • Work Review Checklist- post course checklist of event planning steps
  • Job Aid-a “cheat sheet” of common pitfalls and best practices
  • Reminders- email reminders to follow their action plan
  • Executive Modeling- a case study of a real world event the instructor put on
• Accountability
  • Self Monitoring- creating an action plan and timeline for the next 6 months
  • Action Plan Monitoring- I will check in every other month to ask about progress
  • Survey- post event survey as well as a 6 month post course survey

3. Target Audience: Dancers who are already or have a desire to host social events or workshops but have no experience in event planning.

4. Learning Objectives (participant): On successfully completing the course, participants will be able to:

Module 1: Event Planning Fundamentals

1. Budget
   1. Create a budget for a dance event
   2. Compare different profit structures with venues, teachers, and djs
   3. Explain different options for paying venue, teachers, and djs
2. Venue
   1. Explain the importance of contracts with venues
   2. Create a list of event spaces in the area you wish to plan events
3. Contractors and Equipment
   1. Explain the importance of contracts with teachers and other staff
   2. Create a list of contractors and equipment vendors in the area you wish to plan events

Module 2: Event Planning Process

1. Agenda
   1. Create an event agenda for a dance event
2. Fees
   1. Identify and assess different software for selling tickets for a dance event
3. Marketing
   1. Compare free and paid methods for marketing a dance event
   2. Explain the pros and cons of creating a website for your events
4. Legal
   1. Compose a code of conduct policy with clear rules, reporting structures, and disciplinary actions
   2. Explain the importance of a waiver for attendees
   3. Explain the importance of event insurance
5. Volunteers

Module 3: Event Day Execution and Beyond

1. Setup/Takedown
   1. Create a day-of-event checklist
2. Contingency and Crises
   1. Create a contingency plan if the venue can no longer be used
   2. Create a contingency plan if a contractor cannot come
   3. Create a contingency plan if the AV or other technical issue arises
   4. Explain the procedure if someone gets hurt at your event
   5. Explain the procedure if someone is disrupting the event
3. Post Event
   1. Create a post event survey for attendees
   2. Create an event post mortem document

1. Module 4: Final Project
   1. Create an action plan
      1. Create a 6 month action plan for your first recurring event

5. Outcomes Assessment (measurement of strategic and learning objectives):

Assessments throughout will be conducted with:

1. Pre and post test to gauge the effectiveness of the course
2. Case studies with multiple choice questions to walk students through real world scenarios with feedback
3. Short multiple choice quizzes throughout the course to check learner comprehension and retention of information and provide feedback

The final project will culminate in a 6 month work plan.

1. Homework at the end of each module will contribute to the work plan and will be submitted for feedback and consideration
2. The work plan will be due at the end of the course

Part 3: Design Approach

1. Format: Fully online and synchronous. There will be no live classes, but there will be an instructor to respond to questions, hold weekly office hours, and grade homework.

2. Explanation of Format Choice: Planning your first event is a daunting task and there are many considerations, formats, and tools out there to choose from for many of the steps learners will need to take. It will increase motivation and course completion if learners have a cohort to lean on for support and accountability. In addition, having a dedicated instructor and set schedule will help the learners from stalling in one part of the course.

3. Flow/Sequence of Course: The course will be sectioned into several modules containing related course material, quizzes, and assignments. Each module will be completed one week at a time. When applicable, the learner will be provided a “cheat sheet” to aid in recalling the information and where it was in the course if they need to go back for a refresh.

4. Technologies/Approaches: The course will be designed and offered through Moodle LMS. Video content will be filmed using OBS, a webcam, and an Elgato Wave microphone. Post production editing will be done on Davinci Resolve.

5. Acquisition of Learner Needs/Interest Information: I will conduct interviews with dance organizers to determine the struggles they had when planning their first events. I will send out a survey in dance forums asking for those who have thought about or wanted to plan events. I will offer the opportunity to be a beta tester as an incentive to fill out the survey.

6. Team: One person will be the instructor and manage the course. Subject Matter Experts (well established dance organizers with successful businesses) will be used to help design the course.

Part 4: Implementation

1. 1.  Context: First launch will be directed at those in the social dance communities that Mariposa Dance LLC already has ties with. After launch and further iterations, the course will be targeted to other dance genres. Target Launch Date: January 2025
   2. Approval/Organizational Buy-In: This project has approval from the CEO of Mariposa Dance LLC.
   3. Time/Budget Constraints:  Budget is limited so the development timeline has been extended to learn and use open source and free software.
   4. Resources Needed/Available: Davinci resolve and recording equipment are already purchased. Several items still need to be acquired; contracting SMEs, needs surveys, and  learning Moodle LMS.
   5.  Relevant Organizational Considerations: The target audience are English speakers, but content needs to be clear and concise for ESL learners. The learners may not have a lot of money to invest so all tools and suggestions need to be budget friendly.
   6. Technical Support Expectations/Plan: Learners will be given contact info for any issues or concerns they may have. In addition, they can ask questions to the instructor during the weekly office hours.

Evaluation:

Level 1:

• Summative Assessment: Post course survey immediately after course
• Summative Assessment: Post course survey 3 months after course

Level 2:

• A pre and post test will be administered (quantitative)
• Formative knowledge checks- multiple choice (quantitative)
• Formative knowledge checks- open ended (qualitative)
• Forum discussions (qualitative)

Level 3:

• Final Project: They will submit a work plan and 6 month timeline to launch their first event for review
• I will follow up every month to check on progress (change in behavior)
• Email reminders will be sent to  remind them of event planning steps and encourage them on their work plan

Level 4:

• Final survey in 6 months on leading indicators