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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.

After being scheduled an evening set up in one of the Gaylord ballrooms, I prepared myself for an evening of hard work and excitement. The set up that we were doing included custom risers and staging for a large private event. I was a bit nervous being a newbie to the stagehand world but was comforted when I arrived at the site and met the leaders who were passionate and experienced in this type of work. I was patiently walked through each step along the way and learned many things about the unseen world of set up for all of the fun events I love to attend.

How We Prepared for Set Up

Once we arrived at the venue our team looked over the blueprints for the risers and marked the placement of each piece on the floor. Since the venue had carpet, our second step was laying of Carpet Protection Tape to the floor before unloading. This was done to ensure that there was no damage to the carpet during load, set up, or unload for this event. Carpet Protection Tape comes in large rolls and was placed sticky side down before being rolled across the carpet to cover desired areas.

Before starting to set up the risers, all trucks were unloaded and organized to allow fast and efficient set up of the risers. After unloading was complete our staff split up and started working on their assigned tasks. One group checked the height of each steel leg that was going to be used to build the risers. This was done by counting how many holes were showing and ensuring that the screw and bolt were in the correct hole for the needed height. Size and length of each piece were checked before the screw and bolt were inserted into the second to last hole. Placing the screw and bolt into the second hole strengthens the leg by leaving extra support around the connecting point. Wood shims were placed on the floor, where each leg that will be inserted into the pocket of a staging piece would be, to level the risers on the carpeted area and to protect the carpet.

Steps Taken to Begin Riser Set Up

As a few people prepared to place the steel legs into the pockets of the Bil-Jax staging pieces, another group of people were responsible for unloading and placing the Bil-Jax staging pieces. Each staging piece must have connecting ends placed together for the stage pieces to ensure they hold together and lock. Once the staging pieces were placed, someone got on top of the staging and locked them into place by turning the roto lock inside the staging pieces until it locked into place with the one being connected. All bolts were tightened and spaces between riser levels were checked for levelness and desired height. After the risers were set up, our staff attached steel cross braces to the steel legs ensuring the stability of the risers. These were placed on every other leg facing both directions of the stage.

Final Touches to Risers

After all of the stage pieces were in place, locked, and had the attached cross braces, a double-sided tape was added to the riser for a precut carpet to be laid. Back and side rails were then added to ensure that the risers met ADA guidelines. All extra materials were then packed up and taken back to the trucks, leaving the floor space clear, clean, and ready for use.

By the time we finished this set up I was already excited about what the next one would be like. I never realized how hard people work to ensure a safe set up for all kinds of events. I left with sore feet and shoulders from pulling heavy stacks of staging from the dock into the elevator and then down the halls into the ballroom. My hands were hurting from unscrewing and re-screwing the bolts for each leg used for the stage and risers at this event, but I could not help but feel a great sense of accomplishment. I gained a lot of understanding and respect for stage and riser set up, along with the people who dedicate their time to providing safe and beautiful stages and risers for people’s events.