What Determines the Price of Retractable Seating?

For us, discussing a venue’s upgrade programme, an expansion project, or a brand-new build is always stimulating, often with many interesting questions being raised.

Undoubtedly, the most common questions we’re asked relate to retractable seating systems (sometimes called telescopic systems), particularly their price and the maximum number of seats that can be installed.
If only there was a simple answer! Then again, perhaps that’s a good thing: every venue and project has its own personality and list of requirements to fulfil, after all. Prices must reflect this, and are calculated on a project-by-project basis.

Typically, questions about pricing can be answered by explaining the price-governing factors in seating system design and manufacture, and system servicing and long-term care.

So, we’ve put together some brief answers around pricing and retractable seating systems for you. We hope you find them helpful.

Making Your Seating Decision

Simply put, there’s a co-efficient of around 10 between the highest and lowest price-per-seat; larger stands with many seats have a correspondingly lower cost-per-seat. However, several criteria will influence a seating system’s final cost to the customer.

High on the list are:

• Type of seat selected — plastic, wooden, fabric or bench
• Seating stand configuration and features
• Number of seats
• Complications presented by the venue’s dimensions and/or interior design
• Type of floor — a hard floor, sports floor, sprung flooring, parquet or Marmoleum

As well as:

• Audience — seating can influence and complement a space, often facilitating enhanced audience engagement
• Additional features and customisations chosen

And not forgetting:

• Applicable regulations and standards

Choosing seats should never be rushed into, of course: you want audience members to feel comfortable while enjoying a performance with superb sound and an unobstructed view, and to return to your venue again and again. The good news is that there’s an assortment of seat design options available, meaning that every type of indoor or outdoor venue can be accommodated.

There Are Seats For Every Budget Too

Venues seeking flexibility at a lower cost could simply opt for telescopic bench seating, while at indoor venues – where cultural events, theatre productions, or even talks given by high-profile lecturers are hosted regularly – plush fabric seating can be just perfect. Comfortable folding chairs, ‘traditional’ wooden individual seats and benches, sumptuous VIP options… all can be part of a seating system and will prove easy to keep clean and maintain.
What’s more, allocated seats can be found quickly and safely, thanks to modern aisle illumination options and clear seat numbering. Contemporary seat numbers can augment a seating system’s overall look, in fact. And at lecture halls, seats can even come with individual writing tablets attached to the backrest of the seat in front. So, there really is something for everyone.
How many seats should you include? If you’re unsure as to the number of seats that your venue could contain, prioritise audience comfort . It’s essential to place comfort at the forefront of your decision-making, to ensure that you get seating system design for your venue right first time with no costly redesign to deal with later. Again, all venues are different, making it impossible to generalise. But, as a rule of thumb, adding more seats to a retractable stand unquestionably decreases the comfort level that can be attained; so do bear that in mind.

Long-Term Care and Servicing. What’s the Cost?

Good companies offer programmes of long-term care and servicing, to ensure that your retractable system always runs as smoothly as possible. Annual inspections will involve checking and ‘fine-tuning’ the platforms, where necessary, to avoid needless wear and tear caused by poor adjustment; replacing small parts, as required; and looking for signs of damage that could affect system operation. In short, inspectors will make sure everything is working exactly as it should. They’ll also share tips and offer advice so that you and your team keep up-to-speed on safe operation and maintenance.

Do ask your seating expert about long-term care and servicing options for their retractable seating systems; your investment in servicing is vital to ensuring that your system remains in optimum condition for many years.

Seeing is Believing

While considering all of this, and before making any choices, do your homework. Examine the track record of the company you're speaking to. What do their clients say about them? Do their seating systems and personnel measure up to the levels of safety, stability and reliability you need? Is training offered? What about those all-important service programmes? And, if possible, check out a stand they've installed; which brings us to one final tip: a well-designed and constructed retractable stand should feel exactly like a fixed stand when you walk on it. So, if the stand beneath your feet doesn’t feel suitably solid, go find yourself another designer!