1. SEATING

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

3.  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

4.  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

5. Seating Management  Variables Security Linguistic proficiency Special needs Physical limitations Support staff  Most importantly: Know Your Guests

6. Meetings and Conferences

7. Seating Arrangements  Myriad of seating options  Official Functions Traditional Conference/Boardroom U-Shaped and Oval Seating Classroom Auditorium and Platform Banquet Section or Row

8. 4 2 9 5 3 1 7 10 8 6 Host Traditional Conference Table Seating

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

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

11. Business Delegation

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

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

14. Courtesy Visit and Interpreters

15. U-Shaped Table Seating 3 1 2 6 1210 Host 5 8 1197 4 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

16. U-Shape

17. Classroom setup

18. Open Square

19. Open Oval

20. Auditorium-Style Seating with Center Aisle 753124 68 910 STAGE FamilyLeadership

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

22. Circular Table Seating for 10 - Business Function With Interpreters Visitor 4 Interpreter 1 Host 22 Visitor Host 1 4 5 3 10 Visitor 3 1

23. 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

24. 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

25. Hosts at Center of Table Social Business

26. SOME IDEAS TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT SEATING

27.  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:

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

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

30. Audience Centered Seating: Herringbone

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

32. Angled Seating

33. Face Each Chair Toward Presentation

37. This Isn’t New!

38. Summary  Seating guidelines  Seating arrangements  Interpreters and foreign delegations  Car and aircraft seating  Seating on the Curve

39. Seating Matters: State of the Art Seating Arrangements By: Paul O. Radde Resources: