Whether it’s a conference, concert, or wedding, the right seating arrangement is crucial to the success of an event. The variety of seating arrangements is as diverse as the events themselves. In Germany, the assembly venue regulations of the federal states contain safety-related requirements for seating in event venues.
What seating arrangements are available for events?
Before selecting the optimal seating arrangement, aspects such as room size, number of guests, fire safety regulations, keeping escape routes clear, the characteristics of the sound system and other technical equipment, and, if applicable, any special requirements for a stage program or catering tables must be taken into account.
These are the most common seating arrangements:
Reception
Space requirement: approx. 0.25 m²/person.
Bar tables are ideal for receptions as they do not have a fixed number of users. They encourage spontaneous, communicative exchange and are suitable for placing drinks or finger food on. For longer receptions, lounge furniture can be used in addition or exclusively. The comfortable seating furniture is ideal for relaxing or networking.
Banquet
Space requirement: approx. 3.5 m²/person.
Banquet seating, which assigns six to a maximum of twelve chairs to each table, is practical for hosting guests but requires a lot of space and staff. Square or round tables are usually used for this type of seating. Banquet seating or, alternatively, gala seating is typically the right choice for weddings and other celebrations with a sit-down meal.
Gala
Space requirement: approx. 3.5 m²/person.
The gala arrangement is recommended for formal, festive events. Here, six, eight, ten, or twelve seats are assigned to round tables, which makes this option both personnel- and space-intensive. In contrast to banquet seating, only round tables are used. The big advantage is that this arrangement promotes communication among the guests.
Parliamentary (also: classroom)
Space requirement: approx. 2 m² per person.
The parliamentary arrangement is the most common seating arrangement for training courses, press conferences, or presentations. All participants have a clear view of the stage or speaker, as the tables are arranged in parallel rows one behind the other. Participants can use the tables to store their writing materials or laptops. The herringbone arrangement is a variation in which the tables are arranged at an angle to the speaker.
Row seating (also: theater seating)
Space requirement: approx. 1.3 m²/person.
Row seating does not include tables and offers rows of chairs arranged in a staggered pattern, as is common in theater auditoriums. Another classic variant is the U-shape, which is particularly popular for discussion panels. This shape allows participants to interact directly with each other and respond to comments in a targeted manner.
Blockbestuhlung (auch: Tafelbestuhlung)
Space requirement: approx. 3 m²/person.
Block seating is arranged around a long, rectangular or oval table, also known as a banquet table. This seating arrangement is also referred to as a block table. All participants can see each other and discuss with one another, e.g. at a conference. Block seating can also be arranged in a U-shape (for approx. 40-60 people) or an E-shape (for max. 90 people).
