SEATING. Overview Seating guidelines Seating arrangements Interpreters and foreign delegations Car and aircraft seating Seating on the curve.

SEATING

Overview

Seating guidelines

Seating arrangements

Interpreters and foreign delegations

Car and aircraft seating

Seating on the curve

Precedence (not gender) determines seating priority

Position of honor is normally to the right of the host/hostess

Alternate men and women whenever possible in social environments

Spouses Seat speakers close to podium Mix of round, oval & rectangle tables in social

environments are common today Host/Principal concurrence

Seating Guidelines

Seating Guidelines Social

Purpose: to facilitate discussion and socialize Business

Purpose: functional seating to conduct business Spouses

Typically seat apart – host discretion Table Themes Mix of Academic, Cultural, Business, and

Ecclesiastical Leaders

Seating Management

Variables Security Linguistic proficiency Special needs Physical limitations Support staff

Most importantly: Know Your Guests

Meetings and Conferences

Seating Arrangements Myriad of seating options

Official Functions Traditional Conference/Boardroom U-Shaped and Oval Seating Classroom Auditorium and Platform Banquet Section or Row

4

2

9

5

3

1

7

10

8

6

Host

Traditional Conference Table Seating

G4

G2 V4

G5

G3

G1V2

V5

V3

V1

Business Delegation

G = government; V = visitor

G4 G2

V4

G5G3G1

V2V5 V3 V1

Business International Delegation

Visitor

Government

Business Delegation

G4 G2

V4

G3IG1

V2V3 I V1

Business International Delegation with an Interpreter (Option 1)

Visitor

Government

I = Interpreter

G4 G2

V4

G5G3G1

V2V5 V3 V1

Business International Delegation with an Interpreter (Option 2)

Visitor

Government

I = Interpreter

I

I

Courtesy Visit and Interpreters

U-Shaped Table Seating

3

1

2

6

1210

Host

5

8

1197

4This can also be used forInternational delegation Negotiations. “Us vs. Them”. Divided in half.

V1

V2

V3

C1

C2

C3

V4 V5 V6

C4 C5 C6

U-Shape

Classroom setup

Open Square

Open Oval

Auditorium-Style Seating with Center Aisle

75312468 910

STAGE

FamilyLeadership

Business Social Seating (without Spouses)

C3

Visitor

V3

Co-Host

C2

Host

C1 Visitor

V1

8

V4

Visitor

V2

Visitor

C3 C4

HostHost

Circular Table Seating for 10 -Business Function With Interpreters

Visitor

4

Interpreter

1

Host

2

2

Visitor

Host

1

Host

4

Host

5

Host

310

Visitor

3

1

Visitor

Circular Table for Ten – Five Ladies, Five Gentlemen

Lady

4

Gentleman

2

HOST

1

Lady

Gentleman

3

Lady

3

Gentleman

4

10

Lady

2

1

GentlemanHOSTESS

Mixed Seating for Fourteen – Host and Hostess at Center of Table

144

Gentleman

2

Lady

GOH

Gentleman(Guest of Honor)

5

Gentleman

3

Lady

1

GentlemanHOSTESS

HOSTLady

1

Gentleman

3

Gentleman

2

Lady(Guest of Honor)

GOH

HOST, HOSTESS, GOH GENTLEMAN, GOH LADYG1, G2, G3, G4, G5, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5

Hosts at Center of Table

Social

Business

SOME IDEAS TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT SEATING

Straight row seating restricts interpersonal contact at a meeting

Anytime you have three people in a straight line, visual contact is limited or strained! Both toward the presenter and other attendees

A curved row makes non-verbal cues and gestures accessible

Consider in Seating:

Curved Rows Increase Capacity!Comparison of Curved Row vs. Straight Row

The industry mindset is that straight rows maximize a room -- but they don’t – they create dead space

Audience Centered Seating: Herringbone

Seating in a long shaped room – set to the long side

Angled Seating

Face Each Chair Toward Presentation

This Isn’t New!

Summary

Seating guidelines

Seating arrangements

Interpreters and foreign delegations

Car and aircraft seating

Seating on the Curve

Seating Matters: State of the Art Seating Arrangements

By: Paul O. Radde

Resources: