Watch a speaker turn their back to the audience to check which slide is on the big screen, and you can feel the room lose focus. A confidence monitor fixes that. It is one of the simplest pieces of AV at a corporate event, and one of the most useful.
What is a confidence monitor?
A confidence monitor is a screen placed in front of the stage that faces the speaker, not the audience. It shows the speaker what the audience sees on the main screen, so they can keep eye contact with the room and still know exactly where they are in their presentation.
You will also hear it called a downstage monitor, a speaker monitor or a DSM.
What does it show?
Depending on how it is set up, a confidence monitor can show:
- The current slide, exactly as it appears on the main screen
- The next slide, so the speaker can set up the transition
- Speaker notes from the presentation file
- A timer or clock, so the session stays on schedule
- A remote presenter or a video feed, during hybrid sessions
Showing the current slide is the most common setup. Notes, next slide and a timer usually come from a presenter view on the laptop or from the video switcher.
Where does it go?
Most confidence monitors sit on the floor at the front edge of the stage, angled up toward the speaker. That keeps the screen low enough that the audience sees past it, and close enough that the speaker can read it with a quick glance down.
Other common spots:
- On a stand at the back of the room, sometimes called a comfort monitor, so the speaker looks up and toward the audience
- Built into or beside a podium, for speakers who stay in one spot
- One on each side of a wide stage, for speakers who walk or for panels
When do you need one?
You do not need a confidence monitor for every meeting. You usually do when:
- The main screen is behind the speaker, as in most keynotes and general sessions
- The speaker presents without a laptop in front of them
- Timing matters, such as a tight agenda or an awards show
- You have a panel and the moderator needs to see slides or questions
- Someone is joining remotely and the speaker needs to see them. See our guide to hybrid meeting AV.
In a small boardroom where everyone sits at a table facing one TV, the presenter can usually see the same screen as everyone else, so a confidence monitor is not needed.
Confidence monitor or teleprompter?
They solve different problems. A confidence monitor shows the slides, notes or a timer. A teleprompter shows a full script that scrolls as the speaker talks, usually on angled glass so it does not block the view. Most corporate presenters only need a confidence monitor. Teleprompters are more common for scripted speeches, award hosts and recorded video.
What size should it be?
Pick a size the speaker can read from where they stand. For a monitor on the stage floor a few feet from the speaker, a medium sized display is usually enough. For a monitor at the back of a large room, you need a much bigger screen so the text is readable from the stage. If the speaker will rely on notes, go larger rather than smaller.
Setup tips
- Keep it out of camera shots if the session is being recorded or streamed.
- Angle it to cut glare from stage lights.
- Test with the real presentation. Check that notes and the next slide show up the way the speaker expects.
- Do a quick walkthrough with each speaker so they know where to look.
- Run the cable cleanly or tape it down so nobody trips at the front of the stage.
Renting a confidence monitor in Southern California
AV Stars adds confidence monitors to keynote and general session setups across Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Ventura counties. They are part of our conference AV rental packages, and we can add one to any meeting room setup or hybrid meeting. Need a large display for the back of the room instead? See event TV rental.
Tell us about your stage and speakers and we will suggest the right setup. Request a quote.
