The best event managers and promoters understand that a seating arrangement has the potential to make or break an event. How much you get from your audience depends on where and how they sit. Therefore, selecting the most suitable seating arrangement for your event is a no-brainer.
In this article, we highlighted a few must-know seating arrangements that most audiences seem to appreciate and applaud. In our analysis, we have factored in experts from some of the best professional event planners around. As you read along, you will appreciate the role seating arrangement psychology plays in creating floor plans and event diagrams.
How Does One Choose a Seating Arrangement?
Well, you have to keep in mind the activities you intend to do during your event. The activities largely depend on how long the event is scheduled to take and the specific needs of the attendees. For instance, a week-long event with a lot of training lectures will not work with pod seating, even if a single-day creative workshop will be a perfect match.
Seating Arrangements Explained
It is paramount to keep in mind that the kind of seating arrangement you choose will depend on the goal of your event, the furniture you have at your disposal, and the space available to you.
Chevron
This kind of seating incorporates two columns of short, angled rows with a spacious aisleway in the middle. Successful planners who choose this seating arrangement aim to create a clear focal point front in order to direct all attention to the speaker. To an extent, this seating arrangement aims to encourage group work discussions.
Pros:
- Everyone is in a position to see the speaker
- It is easier to work in small groups
- The space available is maximized
- It works very well in engaging presentations
Cons:
- It is not ideal when dealing with a large group
- There may be some sightline issues if the seats are not staggered
Works Best in:
- Corporate training
- Presentations requiring intense audience participation
- Conferences
Auditorium
In an auditorium seating arrangement, all seats are arranged to face one direction, to a podium or professional stage. Event organizers relinquish this arrangement to create appealing backgrounds, mainly to capture attractive photos.
Pros:
- This arrangement works well with large groups
- Favorable to lectures or speaker series
Cons:
- Sound challenges, especially where the sound system is not powerful enough
- Unfavorable for group breakout sessions
Best for:
- Award shows
- Most kinds of press conferences
- Product demos
Banquet
In a banquet seating, round tables are spread evenly throughout the event space. Ordinarily, the tables used in a banquet arrangement accommodate 8-10 people. To get the best results, event planners group attendees who are well-known to each other together. That way, people will be comfortable interacting with each other. In cases where people are strangers, seat people according to their shared interests, such as hobbies or project objectives.
Banquet seatings are perfect for brand promotion, especially if the event planners have incorporated logo seating in their furniture branding.
Pros:
- Encourages socialization
- Ideal for relaxation and networking
Cons:
- It alienates the attendees, making it difficult for people in different groups to interact
Best for:
- Garden weddings
- Award events
- Outside parties
- Charity events
Boardroom
In the boardroom and conference, seating involves having a long rectangular table and then having the guests face each other. When setting up a boardroom seating arrangement, keep in mind the following conference seating psychology principles in mind:
- The VIP should be sitting at the head side of the table
- VIP’s closest advisors should be at the flank’s side
- People that are on the opposite ends of the table will spend much of their time listening
Pros:
- The arrangement facilitates discussion
- There is direct focus on one person
- Perfect for business meetings
Cons:
- Not favorable when making a long, visual presentation
- Can only hold a limited number of attendees
Best for:
- Brainstorming meetings
- Small team discussions
- Strategic merger meetings
Conclusion
Although the number of attendees largely determines the type of seating arrangement to go for, it is advisable to be aware of the attendees’ nature. Some people will be uncomfortable with a specific seating arrangement, even though it seems the most logical for that event. Conduct a background check on your attendees before deciding on the seating arrangement.
