This year marks a milestone worth celebrating. For 25 years, Mertzcrew has stood alongside the live events industry, supporting the companies, contractors, and technicians who bring complex productions to life. As we enter our Silver Jubilee year, we’re not just looking back at how far we’ve come. We’re celebrating the progress, innovation, and momentum that continue to move the industry forward.

The live events world is defined by motion. Crews mobilize quickly. Productions scale overnight. Timelines compress. Expectations rise. And behind every successful show is a network of contractors whose work demands trust, protection, and precision. Mertzcrew was built for that reality and has been evolving with it ever since.

Solving a Problem the Industry Accepted as Normal

Twenty-five years ago, live event companies operated in a very different environment. Freelance labor was managed through disconnected systems—spreadsheets, emails, paper contracts, and manual processes that introduced unnecessary risk and administrative strain. Compliance requirements were harder to track. Payments were slower and far less predictable. Visibility into labor costs and exposure was limited.

The industry focused on building shows and meeting deadlines, but the systems supporting the people behind those shows hadn’t kept pace with the growing complexity of production.

Mertzcrew was created to challenge that status quo.

From the beginning, the goal was simple but ambitious: make contracting, compliance, and payment easier, more reliable, and more transparent while protecting both companies and crew. What started as a solution to organize freelance labor quickly became something much bigger as the industry evolved.

Growing With the Live Events Industry

As live events scaled, so did the demands placed on companies. More technicians. More shows. More locations. More financial exposure. More pressure to move fast without sacrificing protection.

Mertzcrew evolved alongside that growth.

Automation replaced paperwork. Visibility replaced guesswork. Integrated tools replaced fragmented systems. What was once a point solution expanded into a comprehensive, people-powered platform designed to help live event companies crew smarter.

Over the years, Mertzcrew has grown beyond payments and insurance to support the full lifecycle of freelance labor management, helping companies reduce administrative overhead, manage risk, and gain real-time insight into their operations. Each advancement was guided by the same principle that shaped the company from day one: live events succeed when crews feel supported, and companies are protected.

Built From the Ground Up for Real-World Production

One reason Mertzcrew has remained trusted for 25 years is how it’s built.

Every feature reflects real-world production needs. Every enhancement is motivated by feedback from clients and technicians actively working in the field. The platform isn’t theoretical; it’s practical, tested, and proven in high-pressure environments where accuracy, speed, and compliance matter.

This deep industry understanding allows Mertzcrew to deliver measurable value:

• Increased efficiency through automation and centralized workflows
• Cost savings by reducing manual processes, errors, and administrative time
• Risk reduction through compliant contracts

For enterprise and middle-market live event companies, those benefits scale quickly. When shows multiply and crews expand, having a single, trusted system makes all the difference.

A Platform Trusted by World-Class Companies

At the core of the Mertzcrew story is a platform designed specifically for the realities of the live events industry. Built for speed, scale, and accuracy, the Mertzcrew platform brings together the tools live event companies need to manage freelancers, projects, and compliance in one centralized system.

For Live Event companies, managing AV freelancers means juggling schedules, contracts, budgets, and payments across multiple projects at once. Each event comes with tight timelines, moving parts, and special challenges that leave little room for error. Mertzcrew’s software replaces fragmented processes and paperwork with a single, reliable tool that supports efficient scheduling, compliant contracts, and real-time visibility.

With the right freelance management system in place, companies can confidently scale their workforce without losing control. Mertzcrew helps ensure every independent contractor is properly onboarded, every contract meets compliance standards, and every hour worked is accurately tracked. This level of clarity allows teams to focus less on administrative work and more on delivering a successful live event on time and on budget, and risk mitigation.

As technology continues to evolve, so does the platform. From automation to intelligent insights powered by Mertzcrew’s AI-driven capabilities, the platform is built to support smarter decision-making. Financial leaders gain better visibility into money, labor costs, and risk. Operations teams gain tools that help them manage schedules, contracts, and compliance with ease. The result is a system that supports live events from planning to execution, no matter how complex the project.

After 25 years, the platform reflects deep experience in the AV industry and an ongoing commitment to innovation. It’s not just software, it’s infrastructure for companies that rely on precision, trust, and the right tools to keep their events in motion.

Celebrating the People Behind the Progress

Technology may power the platform, but people power the industry.

The live events world depends on skilled AV techs, experienced freelancers, and dedicated teams who bring expertise, creativity, and problem-solving to every show. Mertzcrew was built with those professionals in mind, supporting the people who do the work while helping companies protect their business.

For freelancers, consistency matters. Clear contracts. On-time payments. Transparent processes. Mertzcrew helps create a better experience by reducing confusion, minimizing paperwork, and ensuring crews can focus on their skill instead of administrative friction. When technicians trust the system behind the scenes, they can bring their full attention and experience to the job at hand.

For companies and clients, managing a growing freelance pool is one of the most important things they do. As employees, contractors, and crews come together on each project, having a system that supports compliance, people, processes, and protection in a way that strengthens long-term relationships, workforce development, and technical training becomes essential. Mertzcrew helps bridge that gap—connecting people, processes, and protection in a way that strengthens long-term relationships.

This people-first approach has been central to the company’s success for 25 years. From leadership rooted in industry knowledge to the partnerships built with clients over decades, the focus has always been on trust. Trust between companies and crews. Trust in the process. Trust that the system will work when time is tight and expectations are high.

As the industry evolves, Mertzcrew remains committed to supporting the human side of live events. Because behind every schedule, every contract, and every successful event is a team of professionals who deserve tools that respect their work, protect their time, and support their future.

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter of Innovation

Celebrating 25 years isn’t about slowing down; it’s about building momentum.

The live events industry continues to evolve, and Mertzcrew is focused on what’s next. Smarter tools. Deeper insights. More automation. Greater visibility. Continued innovation is designed to meet the future needs of live event companies and the freelance workforce that powers them.

As part of this yearlong anniversary celebration, we’ll be sharing more stories, milestones, and perspectives on how the industry has changed and where it’s headed next. This anniversary is not just a reflection of the past, but a signal of what’s to come.

Join the Celebration, and the Future

If you’re a live event company navigating growing pains or risk, Mertzcrew is built for you. Whether you’re looking to improve efficiency, reduce exposure, or create a better experience for your crews and contractors, now is the perfect time to explore what’s possible.

We invite you to be part of the celebration and the next chapter of innovation.

Contact Us to learn how Mertzcrew can support your operations today and help position your company for what’s ahead.