UNLV prof learns how to have fun

The guy who popularized the toilet: Thomas Crapper.

The fastest sprinter on the planet: Usain Bolt.

A UNLV prof who studies fun for a living: Jennifer Livengood.

That raises a couple of questions, doesn't it? Like, Livengood? Studies fun? That must be cool.

And wait, studies fun for a living? As in, gets paid for it? How do I get that job?

That was her reaction, too, when a professor introduced her to the subject some years back in graduate school.

"Seriously? People research what other people do for fun?" Livengood recalled as her reaction. "That. Is. Awesome."

Livengood -- that's her married name, which is lucky, because Jennifer Perry doesn't have quite the same ring to it -- came to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas 21/2 years ago.

She is an assistant professor in the department of Recreation and Sports Management, which is part of the hotel college.

Specifically, she researches the connections between religion and leisure, which is to say she tries to figure out how religious practices and beliefs influence how -- and how much -- people have fun.

This is important in the leisure industry, which can be quite competitive. It tends to carry extra weight here, a town whose very purpose is fun in a time when having fun is a luxury fewer people can afford.

"The economy being in the trash can right now, it's always good to reach out to a diverse population because they bring in money," she said. "It's good for the bottom line to be aware of diversity."

Livengood grew up in a small central Illinois town called Tolono, where the most exciting thing she can remember happening is when the first stop light was installed (she thinks it's still the only one there).

She remembered when she went off to college, a community college in a bigger town 10 miles up the road. She was overjoyed because, there, finally, was diversity.

She ended up with a degree in psychology, which led to graduate school, where she ended up with a degree in social work.

She has always loved nosing around in other people's business, she explained, and these fields suited her well.

But she met this professor, who introduced her to leisure studies, which is when she had the "awesome" reaction. Other people's business and fun -- at the same time.

She got her Ph.D, and she settled into her niche, the crossroads between religion and fun.

She teaches classes -- including leisure programs and introduction to leisure services -- and studies things such as how American Muslims were treated after the events of Sept. 11, 2001; how religious organizations provide leisure activities for their members; and how a person's spiritual beliefs influence their leisure choices.

She has written or co-written academic papers with titles like "The effects of discrimination and constraints negotiation on leisure behavior of American Muslims in post September 11 America."

So it isn't all fun.

Her published work has found that New Paradigm Christians -- these are churches that embrace trendy, hip happenings such as guitar music with the choir -- tend to see leisure activities through the lens their faith provides. In other words, their faith influences what they see as fun. They define knitting, the outdoors, music and even being alone as spiritual activities.

In order to attract people with these beliefs, Livengood said event planners would be smart to offer options for people who want to engage in spiritual activities. Outdoor events, for example, or yoga.

Other studies she has participated in found that Muslims felt hindered in their leisure activities after the terrorist attacks because they believed they were being discriminated against, often in subtle ways such as they way people looked at them. They also are generally a conservative group, though that does not mean there is no place for them or others from conservative groups in Las Vegas.

Livengood noted that Las Vegas used to be marketed as family friendly. And while that's not generally the advertising message being put out there anymore, it can still be true.

There are hotels in town with no gambling, and some shows that are appropriate for conservative families. It wouldn't be a bad idea to market these events to conservative religious groups, she said.

"You can really create your own experience here if you live by your own values," Livengood said. "It's all about choosing things that are most appropriate for you."

She said studying these things and publishing the findings can have practical applications. Event coordinators and resort marketers should be aware of religious holidays, for example, religious dos and don'ts, religious preferences.

Knowing this can not only help to avoid offending people; it can also help in recruiting niche groups to an event or property.

Where they can spend their money. And have fun.

Contact reporter Richard Lake at rlake@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307.