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Dungeon Monitor (sometimes referred to as a Dungeon Master, or simply a "DM") is a person charged with supervising a Play Space (or, "Dungeon") at BDSM events, such as a Pʟᴀʏ Pᴀʀᴛʏ and Fetish Clubs.

These people may be of any sex and may normally identify as any Rᴏʟᴇ (Dᴏᴍɪɴᴀɴᴛ, sᴜʙᴍɪssɪᴠᴇ or Sᴡɪᴛᴄʜ), but while on duty their authority is absolute.
If a Dungeon Monitor orders a Pʟᴀʏ Sᴄᴇɴᴇ/Sᴇssɪᴏɴ to stop, it must be stopped immediately.

Dungeon Monitors are usually people with significant experience and/or explicit education in BDSM and Safer sex practices, and who also have verifiable training both in BDSM Safety practices and first aid techniques.

They often wear a special uniform or hat, but there is no standard way of denoting who is a Dungeon Monitor.

The primary responsibility of a Dungeon Monitor is to ensure the physical Safety of all participants engaging in BDSM Pʟᴀʏ. At a private Dungeon, it is typically the host's position to act as the Dungeon Monitor, or to nominate an attendee to serve in that capacity. At a public Dungeon, the venue typically appoints volunteers or employees for the same purpose.

Dungeon Monitors are normally not permitted to engage in a Sᴄᴇɴᴇ/Sᴇssɪᴏɴ themselves so that they will always remain an outside and objective observer of other Players' Scenes/Sessions.

Almost all Dungeons define a set of Pʀᴏᴛᴏᴄᴏʟ and Rules that list the prohibited activities, as well as the default Sᴀғᴇ Wᴏʀᴅ and sometimes even a "Safe Gesture".

In addition to monitoring a Pʟᴀʏ Sᴄᴇɴᴇ/Sᴇssɪᴏɴ, Dungeon Monitors also maintain the Dungeon equipment between Scenes/Sessions (if the Players themselves fail to do so), performing such activities as cleaning surfaces (possibly with disinfectants), replacing pads and generally readying a Play Space for its next Sᴄᴇɴᴇ/Sᴇssɪᴏɴ.

For many years now, Play Parties have had special people fill the position of "Dungeon Monitor" - or, DM for short.

These people are mainly there to ensure that the Dungeon Protocol and Rules are complied with and to otherwise create a Safe area for the attendees. However, the Dungeon Monitor is also the delegate of the Host, and they both can and should assist the attendees as much as possible in enjoying the Pʟᴀʏ Pᴀʀᴛʏ.

Words Of Basic Advice To Pass On:

01. Know The Dungeon Protocol and Rules Cold and Outright.

Given that your primary responsibility is to enforce the Dungeon Protocol and Rules, this tip may seem pretty obvious, but it’s amazing how many DMs who are unclear on the Dungeon Protocol and Rules.
Look over the Dungeon Protocol and Rules carefully before you start your shift and keep a copy of them on you at all times.

02. Don't Pʟᴀʏ or Overly Socialize While On Duty.

While you are on duty as a DM, you are there to create a Safe environment for others, not to Pʟᴀʏ and not to socialize too much with one particular person or Group of people. Don’t let yourself get distracted.

03. Circulate.

If an area hasn't been inspected in the last fifteen minutes, go look at it.
It’s frequently the case that the Sᴄᴇɴᴇ/Sᴇssɪᴏɴ area is larger than you can watch over from one particular vantage point, so "walk your beat". As a Rule of thumb, if an area hasn’t been checked within the last fifteen minutes, it’s time to go take a look. Be especially alert for any sign of intoxication, as many S&M-related Sᴄᴇɴᴇ/Sᴇssɪᴏɴ accidents would not have occurred had not one or more of the people involved been intoxicated.

04. Don't Show Favoritism (Positive or Negative) To Anyone.

It can be very tempting to want to cut your personal friends a bit of slack regarding their complying with some of the less popular Dungeon Protocol and Rules. DON'T. If "the word" gets out that there is one set of Rules for the friends of the Host/DM, and another set of Rules for the more "lowly" people (and, the word WILL rather quickly get out if this is indeed the case), you have both seriously damaged your credibility and set the stage for hard feelings - maybe even a confrontation.

One of the hardest challenges of Dungeon Monitoring is to be scrupulously fair regarding how you monitor a Sᴄᴇɴᴇ/Sᴇssɪᴏɴ done by someone you personally dislike. Again, there can’t be two standards. Also, it´s unfair to "micro-Dungeon Monitor" a Sᴄᴇɴᴇ/Sᴇssɪᴏɴ being done by someone that you dislike. If you can’t be fair to all, don’t be a Dungeon Monitor.

05. Intervene Sooner - Rather Than Later.

Sooner or later, you are going to see somebody doing something that is against the Dungeon Protocol and Rules. When this occurs, it might be a good idea to wait a few minutes to see if the behavior stops (it frequently does when the people notice that a DM is watching). However, if the improper behavior goes on for more than a few minutes, it’s time to intervene. It’s human nature to test Lɪᴍɪᴛ/s and to see if the "stated" Dungeon Protocol and Rules are the "actual" Dungeon Protocol and Rules. Make sure that people understand what the Dungeon Protocol and Rules are and that complying with them is neither an option nor optional. If they start to get the idea that complying with the Dungeon Protocol and Rules is optional, you can have a real problem on your hands; and the longer this noncompliance goes on, the harder it will become for you to correct. Correcting an error when you first see it helps preserve the energy of the Pʟᴀʏ Pᴀʀᴛʏ.
Key Point: Nobody benefits when a DM observes improper Sᴄᴇɴᴇ/Sᴇssɪᴏɴ behavior and fails to promptly correct it.

06. Intervene Gently and Diplomatically.

Willful violations of the Dungeon Protocol and Rules are actually rather rare.
What’s far more common is that someone simply doesn’t know that a particular activity isn’t allowed. Therefore, take a low-key attitude when you approach the people involved. There is almost never a need to create an embarrassing outbreak or display of anger,. Among other things, this approach helps preserve the dignity of the people involved. A gentle reminder is almost always all that it needed (on the rare occasion that something more than a gentle reminder is needed, get the Dungeon Host before taking action).

07. Be Ready For Emergencies.

Emergencies may involve either only a Sᴄᴇɴᴇ/Sᴇssɪᴏɴ, or a single individual (such as a fainting), or they may involve the entire Pʟᴀʏ Pᴀʀᴛʏ (such as a power failure, or even an earthquake). Make sure you know where the various items of emergency equipment are. Make sure that you know where all of the exits are and how to open them.

08. Have Proper Training and Equipment.

While you are on duty as a Dungeon Monitor, you should wear some type of readily identifiable emblem that signals your position as DM (naturally, you should remove this emblem when not on duty). If at all possible, take training in First Aid and CPR at least once a year. In addition, you should have some latex or other fluid-proof gloves on your person. A small flashlight and a pair of good-quality EMT scissors are also important to have on your person.

09. Help Provide Minor Assistance With Matters Such As Food, Trash and Music.

Putting on a Pʟᴀʏ Pᴀʀᴛʏ has been called, “The curse of the ten thousand details”.
While it’s not usually your job, strictly speaking, to pick up paper cups and other bits of trash that have been left laying around, or to take care of things like the music or temperature level, or to put out fresh food, you will earn the gratitude of the Host if you help out with those tasks as much as you can without compromising your primary duties. In particular, post-Party clean up is often the hardest part of any Pʟᴀʏ Pᴀʀᴛʏ, so anything you can do to make that task easier will be especially appreciated.

10. Debrief After The Party.

After a Pʟᴀʏ Pᴀʀᴛʏ - perhaps, not immediately afterwards, but within a day or two - talk with the Host, the other DMs, and perhaps others who either attended or helped put on the Pʟᴀʏ Pᴀʀᴛʏ to discuss what did or didn’t work. Were there any especially difficult problems with any particular person or Sᴄᴇɴᴇ/Sᴇssɪᴏɴ? Was some aspect of the Pʟᴀʏ Pᴀʀᴛʏ handled especially poorly or especially well? Don’t be surprised if every Pʟᴀʏ Pᴀʀᴛʏ has something to teach you.