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
Seating Arrangements Myriad of seating options
Official Functions Traditional Conference/Boardroom U-Shaped and Oval Seating Classroom Auditorium and Platform Banquet Section or Row
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
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
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
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:
The industry mindset is that straight rows maximize a room -- but they don’t – they create dead space
Summary
Seating guidelines
Seating arrangements
Interpreters and foreign delegations
Car and aircraft seating
Seating on the Curve
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