Author: Robert Chapman

Are you in need of the perfect choir riser? Whether you’re hosting a choir performance, school recital, or any event that requires elevated special event seating, selecting the right rental choral riser vendor is essential.

Here are four steps to help you calculate the perfect choir riser:

Step One: Know Your Performance Space

Before ordering a choral riser, it’s crucial to understand the dimensions and layout of your performance space. Accurate measurements are key to ensure the perfect fit.  If you have access to a structural drawing of your church, or a CAD drawing of your event space, grab it!  If nothing else, a tape measure, a pen, and a sheet of paper works too.  Dimensions of your space are the first step in getting your event ready.

Step Two: Know Your Municipality

Complying with local regulations and permits is crucial when selecting the perfect choir riser. ADA requirements are also a necessary consideration when ensuring accessibility for your performers and audience.  Safety is the primary goal when building a structure that will hold people.  If you are planning on preforming in a public space such as a city park or event center, certified engineer drawings may also be required.

Step Three: What is my use going to be?

Knowing your specific use for the choir riser is pivotal in ensuring the appropriate size and weight capacity. Answer questions such as the number of performers, performance style, and any additional equipment or instruments to fulfill your specific requirements.

• Is the choir going to be seated or standing?
• Do you need room for an orchestra on the risers, or in front of it?
• How is the audience going to be seated, and will line of sight be a factor?
• Are you going to amplify the choir through a sound system, and where will it be placed?
• Do you want a narrow performance space with higher tiers, or a wider performance space with lower tiers?

Step Four: Do the Math

Calculating the dimensions and weight capacity of your choral riser is essential for structural stability and safety.  Here’s the basics:

• For seated choirs – a normal banquet chair is 18” wide. With a standing choir, you can estimate shoulder to shoulder at 16” wide. If your standing choir is using songbooks, estimate 20” shoulder to shoulder. Standing children’s choirs can be estimated at 14” wide.
• Now – take your shoulder to shoulder measurements and multiply by the number of voices in your choir. Divide by 12, and this will give you the number of linear feet you need to look at for your choir. Divide by the desired amount of tiers. (Don’t forget that the first row of voices will stand on the ground, or on stage in front of the risers.) From there – add 8’ minimum for aisles on stage right and left.
• For riser depth – standing choirs will typically use 2’ of depth per tiers. Seated choirs will typically use 3.5’ of depth per tier. Multiply by the number of tiers (don’t forget that first row on the ground!) and this will give you the depth needed for your riser.

Additional Uses for Choral Risers

Choral risers may be known for their ability to elevate performances and choirs, but their versatility extends far beyond just that. These multi-purpose staging solutions are like the chameleons of the event world, adapting to various needs and enhancing the overall experience. Here are some additional uses for choir risers that will make you see them in a whole new light:

• Photo Risers: Picture this – a group photo with everyone perfectly arranged in rows, easily visible and capturing the magic of the moment. Choir risers provide a fantastic platform for arranging large groups of people, making it a breeze to capture memorable pictures at events such as weddings, galas, and family reunions. With everyone clearly in view, you won’t have to worry about people being hidden in the back.

• Press Risers: When it comes to media coverage, creating an optimal vantage point for photographers and videographers is essential. By utilizing choral risers as press risers, you not only provide the perfect platform for capturing important moments but also ensure that the media team has a clear line of sight to the subject of their coverage. Press risers are frequently used in events like press conferences, award ceremonies, and red carpet occasions to ensure maximum visibility for media professionals.

• Audience Seating Risers: Want to ensure that everyone in the audience has a clear view of the stage? Choral risers can be transformed into audience seating risers, creating elevated rows of seating for better sightlines. Whether you’re organizing a corporate conference, a school assembly, or a theatrical performance, audience seating risers allow you to maximize the seating capacity of your event space while ensuring that every guest can enjoy an unobstructed view.

Safety, ADA Requirements, and the Best Options for Your Event

Safety is our top priority at Texas Choral Riser Rental. When it comes to choral risers, we understand the importance of ensuring a secure and worry-free experience for performers and event attendees alike. Our choral risers are designed and built with meticulous attention to detail, adhering to industry safety standards and regulations. From the materials used to the construction techniques employed, every aspect is carefully considered to ensure optimal structural stability and durability.

Our team of experts is well-versed in ADA requirements and accessibility guidelines, guaranteeing that our choral risers provide a safe and inclusive experience for everyone. We prioritize accessibility by incorporating features such as ramps, handrails, and non-slip surfaces to ensure seamless and safe transitions for performers and audience members with disabilities.

But our commitment to safety doesn’t stop there. We go the extra mile by providing detailed structural drawings, offering peace of mind and assuring our clients that every element of their event setup meets or exceeds safety regulations.

We know that a successful event requires careful planning and a focus on the well-being of all involved. That’s why we offer a range of choral risers that not only elevate performances but also prioritize safety. Allow us the opportunity to partner with you in creating a memorable and secure event. Contact us today to discuss your event needs, and let us help you find the perfect choral riser that combines safety, functionality, and style.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new website, www.texaschoralriserrental.com! Whether you are planning a corporate event, concert, graduation ceremony, or any other gathering, Texas Choral Riser Rental is here to provide you with top-notch audience seating solutions. With our new website, we aim to make it easier than ever for you to find the perfect audience seating risers to enhance the comfort and experience of your attendees. Our extensive range of services includes choral and choir risers, press risers, photo risers, as well as grandstand seating for VIPs.

Audience Seating Risers for Maximum Attendee Comfort

When it comes to audience seating, we understand the importance of comfort and safety. That’s why we offer a wide variety of riser types to cater to your specific needs and venue requirements. Our choral and choir risers provide an elevated and organized platform for choirs and performers, ensuring optimal visibility and sound projection. Press risers are designed to accommodate media personnel with a clear line of sight to capture the event’s highlights. For capturing memorable moments in photographs, our photo risers create an elevated platform for photographers to get the perfect shot.

We also offer grandstand seating for VIPs, providing an elevated and designated area for special guests to enjoy the event in comfort and style. All our risers are designed with contemporary aesthetics and safety features, including handrails and backrails, to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience for your attendees.

When you need comfortable seating for a small or large audience, indoor or outdoor, our experienced team can customize the perfect riser arrangement to meet your needs.  Take a moment to explore our new website and discover the full range of services we offer. Request a quote today, and let us elevate your next event with our premium audience seating solutions.  Contact Texas Choral Riser Rental to learn more and get started on creating a comfortable and memorable experience for your audience.

Grandstand seating is used for a variety of different types of events, both indoors and outdoors. If you are an event organizer, and looking for grandstand seating rentals, then you’ve found the right blog post! Hopefully, this article can give you some insight into the logistics of renting grandstand seating, as well as some pointers to look for in your vendor.

First, let’s talk about the types of events grandstand seating is used for. The obvious choice for grandstand seating rentals is outdoor sporting events. Here, it’s important to consider the type of audience using the grandstand. For non-ticketed events, or general admission seating, regular aluminum bleachers will work fine. However, when your attendees purchase a ticket, then they expect a higher level of seating. In this type of grandstand rental, you’ll need handrails and chairs, and possibly a cover depending on the time of the year and event time. Finally, for VIP seating, you’ll definitely need a cover, and the option of bar areas, tables, and chairs. Sometimes called a skybox rental, high-end grandstand seating is also used for branding purposes, and is typically paid for by a sponsor.

Indoor events also use grandstand seating rentals. In an indoor environment, seating risers can be used for theatrical productions, concerts, and corporate presentations, as well as indoor sporting events. Like outdoor events, grandstand seating rentals are used whenever it’s necessary to provide elevated or tiered seating for sight lines, or, to allow a group of VIP ticket holders or guests an experience that is more than just the event they are viewing.

For the event organizer, there is some logistical information you need to collect before you contact your rental vendor. Obviously, date, location, and time of the event is critical. However, the rental vendor will need an overhead plan of the event, as well as the number of people you plan to have on your grandstand. Does your grandstand require a cover? Does it need to meet ADA specifications? It’s also critical for you to know what local fire codes are for seating, and whether or not the municipality will require a building permit. Many times, your venue contact can help you with permitting and fire code restrictions. Having this information in hand when you start looking for grandstand rental vendors will help them provide you an accurate quote from the beginning of your negotiations.

Finally, when selecting a rental vendor for grandstand seating rentals, bleacher rentals, or skybox rentals, there are a few things to look for. While it seems obvious, look for a rental vendor that has previous experience in building the kind of seating you require. Ask for references. Make sure the company has some form of building certification, preferably with the municipality you will be building in. Verify the potential vendor’s insurance, and check the internet for positive (or negative) reviews. Ask if the vendor can provide an engineer stamped certificate of the grandstand riser build. Any reputable company is happy to provide this information to you.

Thanks for reading this post! If you have any questions, feel free to comment, or call us at 844-841-4202. The experts at Texas Choral Riser Rental will be happy to work with you on your event!