The common room arrangements are as follows:
For large conferences and keynote speaking the most popular room set-up is theater style. This is the most formal and can accommodate the most people.
For board room and executive meetings, conference style works fine.
When giving seminars and workshops, classroom style will provide the audience with desks or tables for taking notes.
When your goal is maximum interaction, participation, or teambuilding, U-shaped or team style is the best choice. A U-shape configuration allows every member to see each other and facilitates easy communication and open sharing. Team style enables groups to work in teams for maximum problem-solving and competitive or creative activities.
Be strategic in where you place the microphone and audio-visual equipment. It should be set up for maximum ease of use.
For more information, read chapter 9, Setting the Stage, Knockout Presentations.
