Seating Style for your Events
So you have found our venue perfect for your next event, now you need to start to think about the room layout and in particular the seating style for your audience.
Whether you are setting up a business presentation, hosting a reception or a wedding, a full scale gala birthday party 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 to have a seating style for your audience in the best way to achieve the maximum impact for your message!
In this latest blog We have highlighted the eight most popular seating styles so you can choose the best option for your next event.
Theatre Style
This is the simplest seating 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 stage 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.
Ideal for Receptions, Birthday Parties, Weddings, Cradle Ceremonies, Meetings, Product launches etc
Banquet Style
This style is similar to a round dinner table seating style, 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
Ideal for Birthday parties, Sangeet, Receptions, Product launches, gala dinners, awards night, weddings and other informal events.
Cabaret Style
This style is similar to Banquet type seating 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.
Ideal for Birthday parties, Sangeet, Receptions, Product launches, Training sessions, gala dinners, awards night, weddings and other informal events.
Cocktail Party
This seating style is unlike any others with no chairs or tables. It is literally standing space.
- Positives:
- Most efficient use of floor space, with maximum room capacity available.
- Audience interaction greatly enhanced, with audience members able to freely mingle and roam.
- Negatives:
- Audience is standing with no opportunity to sit and rest.
- Does not allow for note taking or consumption of plated food and beverage.
Ideal for cocktail parties, Get-togethers, Anniversary parties and other social events.
U Shape
As the name suggests this seating 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.
Ideal for training, conferences, workshops, meetings
Horse Shoe
This style is very similar to U Shape seating style, however there are no tables, only chairs arranged in an open ended configuration with the audience facing inwards.
- Positives:
- The open end provides a focal point and allows for a presentation area.
- Allows presenter to approach and engage with each audience member.
- Negatives:
- Inefficient use of floor space, with seating capacity reduced.
- Aisles are required to ensure sufficient access and egress to seating area.
- There is no provision for note taking or consumption of plated food and beverage.
Ideal for large meetings, presentations, team briefings
Hollow Square
This style is similar to U Shape seating style, 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.
Board Room
This style is a smaller version of the Hollow Square or U Shape seating style, 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
Ideal for small meetings, one on one interviews, small presentations, team briefings.
Now that you have zeroed in on the seating style for your party, Please get in touch with our facility manager with your requirements & the seating style.
Post inspired from Staging Connections
