When the Crowd's Volume Is the Input: Inside the Excitometer
Introduction
An Excitometer translates the energy of the crowd into a live trigger, making the experience an unprecedented and innovative way of audience engagement: the more cheering, clapping, and crowd energy is used, the closer the event is to the next great moment.
What is an Excitometer?
What if the audience wasn't just watching the event but also what happened next?
The crowd becomes an interactive trigger with one or more Excitometers. Rather than having attendees tap a button, scan a QR code, or answer a question, it gauges the actual noise level generated by the live reaction, whether it's cheering, shouting, clapping, or a collective excitement. And it converts this energy into part of the event.
The intensity meter on the large screen slowly increases as the crowd becomes louder. Once the set threshold is reached, the system will automatically proceed to the next moment or event, which could be a sponsor reveal, prize unlock, or program switch.
How Does the Excitometer Work?
The idea is easy to understand but can create an impactful event moment.
- 1 The noise of the crowd is recorded by microphones: In a special Excitometer moment, the sound is captured by the microphones. The intensity being measured includes cheering, shouting, clapping by the crowd, etc.
- 2 The live meter is a reaction to the crowd: The audience will visually see the energy represented on the main event screen. The higher the noise level, the higher the meter will rise. Once the people are quiet, the intensity decreases.
- 3 A threshold is set: The level of sustained crowd noise that is necessary to trigger the following moment in the experience is pre-defined by the organisers.
- 4 The automatic launch of the next moment is triggered: When the pre-stated threshold is exceeded, the platform automatically performs the action that has been programmed in.
What makes this different from every other Crowdplay module
Most interactive event technology relies on deliberate human interaction. A guest clicks on an option in a poll. A QR code is scanned. One of the participants enters an answer into an online quiz. A player is spinning a wheel.
The Excitometer operates in a different fashion - There is no need for individual responses to be submitted. Instead, the energy of the group as a whole is the input.
Where it fits in an event
Sponsor Reveals
Rather than showing the sponsor logo or a campaign message at a set date and time, the organizers can have the audience earn the reveal by using their bodies in a collective way.
It also allows the sponsor to feel as if they are a part of the experience instead of just added on to the event calendar.
Prize Unlocks
The Excitometer may also be used to develop a ‘buzz’ for a reward or prize. One host may state a special prize for the audience to unlock when they achieve the necessary level of excitement. The meter comes up, people start to cheer, and it gradually gets to the limit.
The mechanism could be especially potent in product launches, festivals, corporate events and even brand activations where generating a strong energy moment is a goal.
Segment Transitions
The Excitometer can also be used to switch between program sections. With this approach, an organiser can determine when to move to the next moment in the sequence rather than on a rigidly programmed timetable, but use the energy of the audience as the cue.
This can help to make transitions feel more like a part of the show than technical cues.
Why It Works for Event Engagement
A regular event has a set sequence: Presentation, Announcement, Performance, Transition, etc. One way to add some audience-driven progression is to include an Excitometer. The crowd can visualize the group's energy, understand what it needs to accomplish, and feel the outcomes on the spot.
It can be a fun option for organizers to boost audience interaction without asking all in attendance to turn in their phones or get into another gadget.
Conclusion
The Excitometer transforms the essence of the crowd's noise into an interactive instrument to control events. It does not just make audiences watch, vote, or respond to a given situation, but makes the overall vibe of a group dictate when an event is supposed to happen.
Want to see the Excitometer respond to real noise? Book a demo and bring the energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Excitometer need special hardware?
It relies on microphone input from the venue's existing audio setup rather than requiring dedicated proprietary hardware, though setup specifics depend on the venue.
Can the trigger threshold be adjusted per event?
Yes — the intensity level required to trigger the next moment is configurable, so it can be tuned to a smaller, quieter room or a large, loud one.
What happens if the crowd never reaches the threshold?
A fallback option — a manual trigger or a timeout that proceeds automatically after a set duration — can be configured so the event doesn't stall waiting indefinitely.
Can the Excitometer display alongside other Crowdplay content on the same wall?
Yes — the intensity meter can share screen time with other live displays, such as a leaderboard or countdown, depending on how the wall is configured.