So, how does it work? Well, an electrical cabinet built into the seating stand – with all the necessary safety systems – is used to draw in seat rows and to move the stand from one place to another. Access to the cabinet is easy: the front of the first tier is designed so that it's removable, providing access to the motor in all positions. Completely rotating the stand on its central axis is even an option. Note: The stand itself can be drawn into a partial seating set up, single tier, or as a slim streamlined unit.
Great Seating - As Vital as a Great Stage and Lighting
With this particular seating system type (also known as telescopic seating), everything can be fully automatic ('automatic retractable stands'), meaning that the seats fold up and the stand automatically folds up neatly and speedily – telescopic movement all at the press of a button. Learning to operate the controls doesn't take long, and as the stand folds up perfectly every time, every single piece of it also does the same, simultaneously. That means no time spent collapsing railings, removing end panels...
Paying customers finding their seat quickly and easily is also important, of course. That's why motorised retractable seating systems can come with high quality and clear seat and row lettering, as well as high-spec aisle illumination.
Every Imaginable Indoor Event Could be Hosted
Any concert hall Operations Manager, including those who report to the Managing Director of a venue owned by a large multinational corporation, can recommend motorised retractable seating with confidence. They can also qualify their recommendation by highlighting the following benefits of 'going telescopic':
· Seating formations can take on more formats, from standard/standard end-on to partial, and from in-the-round to traverse formations.
· Other types of stage designs can be considered, once the retractable seating is in place. This means that the variety of shows can be widened, raising revenue as well as venue profile.
· An improved seating-stage configuration can result in performances being more involving for audience members: something that so many bands and singer- songwriters particularly love, meaning they will want to return there and play time and time again (this can also generate positive press, helping to enhance venue profile and prestige all the more).
· Retractable seating isn't 'just' a practical solution for seating that's moved regularly, but also a labour- and time-saving one. Finding subcontractors can often be hard, and any equipment that requires minimal labour to assemble can only be advantageous. Motorised retractable seating being low maintenance also makes it an attractive option.
With a retractable system in place, an Operations Manager's small team of assistants, who help her run the venue and prepare for major concerts and conferences, can devote more time to other aspects of event preparation. Liaison with event organisers and subcontractors could be improved, for example. A promoter, band manager or record company boss might be keen to create a certain atmosphere or tone at a show, and with the seating side of things already quickly managed, other 'show-time' details can be given greater attention.
What's more, being able to provide the ideal set up for practically any large scale event would allow the venue to also branch out into others areas (boosting income), such as sporting occasions, musicals, family shows, comedy, festivals, and even packed-to-the-rafters political rallies.
Quick Turnaround Means More Events
The Managing Director of a venue, mulling over their Operations Manager's proposed seating system changeover idea, may be forgiven for thinking that fabulously flexible motorised retractable seating sounds too good to be true – concerns over safety and reliability, or compliance with strict regulations and legislation, may be raised at meetings. Yes, they may be impressed that retractable seating is easy to use, super-quick to set up and take down - meaning that time is saved and quick turnarounds can result in the venue being used more often - but what if with increased flexibility comes increased risk to the public and venue staff?
That is simply not the case with motorised telescopic seating. Not only does it offer such flexibility that it's suitable as a piece of equipment for all future concert hall event possibilities, it is also perfectly safe, durable, stable and already proven as being so at countless venues across the world. Any Managing Director still harbouring doubts need only visit or contact another venue where such a seating system is already in place, to finally put those reservations to bed.