9 High-Impact Seating Arrangements for Corporate Events

Published On: June 2, 2016Categories: Corporate Events

The communication factor on any event is critical. Whether you are setting up a business presentation, training classroom, hosting a full scale gala dinner or product launch, the arrangement of the seating can make all the difference. You have invited your audience to communicate a message, so it’s important that your audience is seated in the best way to achieve the maximum impact for your message!

In this latest blog I have highlighted the nine most popular seating styles so you can choose the best option for your next event.

Theatre

Theatre Style

This is the simplest style, reflecting the seating found in a theatre or cinema with chairs aligned in consecutive straight rows.

Positives:
– All of the seats are facing forwards towards the front of the function room.
– Maximum seated capacity is achieved for the function room.

Negatives:
– The audience is closed in, needing to push past other audience members to enter/exit the seating area.
– Aisles are required to ensure sufficient access to seating area.
– There is no provision for note taking or consumption of plated food and beverage.
– Audience interaction is hindered as audience members don’t face each other.

Classroom

Classroom Style

This style reflects the seating found in a school or lecture theatre, with chairs and trestle tables aligned in consecutive straight rows.

Positives:
– All of the seats are facing forwards towards the front of the function room.
– Allows for note taking and consumption of plated food and beverage.

Negatives:
– Again the audience is closed in, making it difficult for audience members to enter or exit
– Aisles are required to ensure sufficient access to seating area.
– Seating capacity is reduced by the trestle tables. .
– Audience is less likely to interact as they are not facing each other.

U Shape

U Shape

As the name suggests this style is in the shape of the letter U, with the tables & chairs arranged in an open ended configuration with the audience facing inwards.

Positives:
– The open end allows for a focal point or presentation area.
– Allows presenter to approach and engage with each audience members.
– Audience interaction is enhanced, with audience members facing each other.

Negatives:
– Inefficient use of floor space, with seating capacity reduced..
– A large proportion of the audience are seated side-on to the presentation area.

Hollow Square

Hollow Square

This style is similar to U Shape, however there are four sides and no open end, with the audience all facing inwards.

Positives:
– Audience interaction fully enhanced, with audience members all facing each other
– Allows audience to consume plated food and beverage easily

Negatives:

– Seating capacity is reduced
– Does not allow for a main presentation area or focal point.

Boardroom

Boardroom Style

This style is a smaller version of the Hollow Square or U Shape, however there is a large elongated table, with the audience all facing inwards.

Positives:
– Encourages audience interaction as they all face inwards

Negatives:
– Restricts the position of a presentation area or focal point, typically to the end of the table

Banquet

Banquet Style

This style is similar to a round dinner table, with the audience seated around the circumference facing inwards.

Positives:
– Audience interaction fully enhanced, with audience members all facing each other

Negatives:
– The audience is closed in, needing to push past other audience members to enter/exit the seating area

Cabaret

Cabaret Style

This style is similar to Banquet style, however there is an open end, with the audience seated in an arc facing forwards.

Positives:
– The open end allows for a focal point or presentation area.

Negatives:
– Inefficient use of floor space, with seating capacity reduced.