Millions of people the world-over still enjoy a night at the movies. Billions, in fact. Watching the latest Hollywood or Bollywood blockbuster is made all the more enjoyable if the venue’s seating has been designed by expert theater seating manufacturers – specialists who know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to giving movie theatre-goers the silver screen experience they crave.
Having Superb Theater Seating Is (Wait For It…) Paramount!
What motivates folks to visit movie theaters is primarily, good movies, of course. But it’s more than that. It can be uniquely rewarding to experience a film with a captivated audience. Feel part of something, something special; escape and become immersed in another world, along with equally spellbound audience members, at least for a while…
According to Variety.com, with 2018 ending up with almost $50 billion sales at the global box office, the worldwide movie business is on track to hit an all-time record when it comes to theatre ticket sales this year. The popularity of movie theaters is set to grow and grow, meaning that theater design must grow and evolve in tandem. And that includes seating design.
Today’s Audiences Won’t Tolerate The Slightest Discomfort
Good theater seating manufacturers take pains to remain abreast of changing tastes, emerging trends. They recognise the importance of never resting upon one’s laurels, to always move with the times. If today’s demanding audiences feel that movie-theater seating in their local venue simply isn’t up to scratch (“Sorry to complain, but, I gotta say, these seats are kinda small and cramped; they’re nowhere near as roomy or plush as you find in New York or L.A. And don’t even get me started on the leg room!”), they’ll soon spend their hard-earned cash elsewhere, preferring to part with their disposable income somewhere else. And you don’t want that.
The same goes for theaters regularly hosting events such as musicals, operas and plays. Theater trips don’t always involve must-see movies, hotdogs, popcorn and a generous helping of surround sound, after all; sometimes, ticket-buyers hanker for something, well, different.
The Long And The Short Of It
When there isn’t an HD widescreen in sight, theater attendees still want to feel comfortable. They expect everything required of a high-quality cinema seat in fact - but for venue owners, the seating must also be in keeping with the décor. At ultra-modern new theaters and auditoriums, and more traditional old 'Music Hall’ type venues it’s about providing comfort and style in a harmonising way. Everything has to look and feel right. Folks might be seated there for three hours or more, remember (as anyone who ever sat through Ben Hur or Wagner's Siegfried will testify)!
As with movie theaters, those attending auditoriums built for hosting plays, musicals, operas, reviews and the like, will want seats that offer good lumbar support beneath plush upholstery. They also expect headrests, a feeling of stability, plenty of leg room, oh, and proper aisle lighting and clear seat numbering. No point in having world-class seats if no one can find ‘em come Showtime!
Whatever your venue, take some time out to really think about what will work and check out the latest trends. See what others are doing and set a checklist of things you can and can't do without. Consult with experts; ask them what's new and what works, any good seating manufacturer with experience in the world of theater and venues for the performing arts will be delighted to give you advice and ideas so you can make your decision fully informed.