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

 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

Host Traditional Conference Table Seating

G4 G2V4 G5 G3 G1V2 V5 V3 V1 Business Delegation G = government; V = visitor

G4 G2 V4 G5G3 G1 V2V5V3 V1 Business International Delegation Visitor Government

Business Delegation

G4 G2 V4 G3I G1 V2V3I V1 Business International Delegation with an Interpreter (Option 1) Visitor Government I = Interpreter

G4 G2 V4 G5G3 G1 V2V5V3 V1 Business International Delegation with an Interpreter (Option 2) Visitor Government I = Interpreter I I

Courtesy Visit and Interpreters

U-Shaped Table Seating Host This can also be used for International delegation Negotiations. “Us vs. Them”. Divided in half. V1 V2 V3 C1 C2 C3 V4 V5V6 C4C5 C6

U-Shape

Classroom setup

Open Square

Open Oval

Auditorium-Style Seating with Center Aisle STAGE FamilyLeadership

Business Social Seating (without Spouses) C3 Visitor V3 Co-Host C2 Host C1 Visitor V1 8 V4 Visitor V2 Visitor C3C4 Host

Circular Table Seating for 10 - Business Function With Interpreters Visitor 4 Interpreter 1 Host 22 Visitor Host Visitor 3 1

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 Gentleman HOSTESS

Mixed Seating for Fourteen – Host and Hostess at Center of Table 14 4 Gentleman 2 Lady GOH Gentleman (Guest of Honor) 5 Gentleman 3 Lady 1 GentlemanHOSTESS HOST Lady 1 Gentleman 3 2 Lady (Guest of Honor) GOH HOST, HOSTESS, GOH GENTLEMAN, GOH LADY G1, 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: