8 Seating Arrangements Used for Events

1. Theatre

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.

Popular for meetings, annual general meetings, product launches and presentations

2. Classroom

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.

Popular for training, conferences, sales kick –offs and product launches

3. 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.

Popular for training, conferences, meetings and workshops

4. 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.

Popular for discussions

5. Boardroom

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

Popular for small meetings, one on one interviews, small presentations, team briefings.

6. Banquet

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

Popular for gala dinners, awards night, Christmas parties, weddings and other informal events.

7. Cabaret

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.

Popular with meetings such as training sessions, awards nights and gala dinners

8. Cocktail

This 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.

Popular for cocktail parties, weddings, Christmas parties and other social events.