What is a Confidence Monitor? (Everything You Need to Know

Confidence monitors are an often overlooked component of live event production, but are crucial pieces of equipment to ensure a smooth event and a pleasant experience for your keynotes and speakers.

A confidence monitor (also referred to as a down stage monitor, or DSM) is a screen positioned so that a presenter can see their slides, notes, or prompts while facing the audience. This helps them deliver a smooth and confident presentation while having the security and comfort of their content in an easy to see area.

Think of confidence monitors as a form of teleprompters that you see presidents and politicians use, but within the confidence of a corporate or live event!

Understanding Confidence Monitors

A confidence monitor is simply a screen facing the presenter showing what the audience sees or notes for the presenter. While this is the most basic definition of a confidence monitor, confidence monitors can take the form of multiple screens, placed in the back of the room, and endless creative applications!

Here at Centric Events, we place three confidence monitors by default on all our live productions. From our experience it is helpful to have one screen show the current slide and speaker notes, one screen showing the next slide, and one screen showing the amount of time the speaker has left.

If you are shopping for confidence monitors it is important to note that not all production companies will bring along three screens unless you specifically ask for them. At Centric Events, we have learned that three screens always goes over and above our client’s expectations, but we can always make adjustments depending on client preference!

Why are Confidence Monitors Important?

Confidence monitors are crucial for successful live events, but most corporate event planners overlook confidence monitors as they are not often noticed by the audience. This is why it is crucial to work with a highly rated and experienced event production company, such as Centric Events.

Confidence monitors are important for the following reasons:

• Keeps presenters on track with their notes
• Shows the presenter how much time is left in the presentation
• They can even be configured to communicate with the speaker and send them notes that only they can see
• Reduces mistakes and miscues
• Gives speakers confidence

Types of Confidence Monitors

Think of confidence monitors simply as a computer screen, television, or any sort of screen that can be configured to display content. The magic of confidence monitors comes from the software and hardware that power these devices. There are multiple types of monitors, such as the following:

• Flat-panel screens on stage
• Floor-based displays
• Foldback monitors
• Custom solutions (such as iPad with slides)
• integrated systems for live events (most common for large conferences)

Ultimately, there are endless solutions that can be used for downstage monitors based on budget, scale of event, and type of event.

How Confidence Monitors Are Used in Events

At Centric Events, we have seen endless uses of confidence monitors. Some of the most common uses are as follows:

• Corporate Conference: keynote speakers rely on these for their notes, slides, and communication
• Concerts: musicians and bands use these to help them remember lyrics and show cues
• Worship Services
• Broadcast Productions
• Hybrid & Virtual Events

Ultimately, confidence monitors are an inexpensive addition to your audio visual production bill, but are crucial to a successful event. It is crucial to work with a highly rated and experienced audio visual production company, such as Centric Events, when planning these types of events as; a highly rated company will be able to ask the right questions and uncover if confidence monitors are important for your event.