Being a scheduler is no easy feat, with outdated spreadsheets, scattered communication, and critical crew knowledge walking out the door when schedulers move on to other opportunities, live event companies are operating under constant pressure. Mertzcrew’s mission is to empower event production teams with smart, adaptive tools and support to overcome these hurdles to put on successful, more streamlined events. With that mission in mind, the next era of crew management has arrived! 

Introducing Gofer AI, the live event industry’s first AI-powered crewing assistant, brought to you exclusively by Mertzcrew. This innovative tool is a breakthrough in adaptive scheduling software to support Mertzcrew’s pillars of support for crews and the live event companies that count on them to make everything ready for showtime. 

The live events industry continues to grow and change, and tools implemented for its professionals need to be able to work dynamically to align with the needs that arise and persist. With time-consuming logistics, high-pressure deadlines, fragmented systems, and spreadsheets, managing these events depends on the people involved, especially the techs. The success of an event depends on the right techs in the right place at the right time, and Gofer AI from Mertzcrew enables just that. 

Gofer AI: Your New Scheduling Sidekick

In live events, a “gofer” is someone who’s sent to “go for” things: coffee, cables, gear, or whatever the team needs on-site. In the case of Gofer AI, the task is smarter and more strategic: it’s your assistant that goes deeper into insights that you need for the crew. With just one click, Gofer surfaces tailored, data-driven technician recommendations using data that is specific to your company, which means no more juggling spreadsheets, memory gaps, or last-minute scrambles.

What Does Gofer Do Alongside Mertzcrew? 

In simple terms, Gofer is built to be intuitive and incredibly useful right where you need it most, directly on a project’s crew page in Mertzcrew. When you’re building out your team, Gofer works in the background to surface high-probability technician matches in real time, based on the specific needs of the project. It takes into account critical details like role requirements, location, availability, certifications, and even past performance to ensure the best possible fit. Behind every recommendation is the power of Mertzcrew’s extensive network of over 14,000 freelance technicians, all analyzed and matched using real data. The result is a crew selection process that’s faster, smarter, and more aligned with your production goals from the start.

Real Benefits, Right From Day One

Gofer isn’t about changing how you work; it’s about making how you work efficient, faster, and more reliable. From the moment it’s activated, Gofer begins surfacing smart, high-confidence crew suggestions that reduce the time it takes to fill a project and improve the accuracy of the match. That means fewer back-and-forth calls, less stress during crunch time, and better results on an event day

Schedulers using Gofer report time saved across every phase of crew coordination, especially in those moments when finding the right person fast can make or break a production. By quickly narrowing down your technician options using real-time data, Gofer empowers you to:

• Skip the guesswork and manual filtering: skip manual list-building and digging through old contacts.
• Fill last-minute or hard-to-find roles with greater confidence: Even during crunch time, use high-probability matches surfaced instantly. 
• Avoid double-bookings, mismatches, or missed certifications: Utilize intelligent crew suggestions you can trust, built on data and past performance.
• Spend more time focusing on production, not logistics: Match the right techs to the right jobs from day one

The result? Stronger shows, smoother workflows, and a calmer path from planning to execution. Gabe Solomon, the President at Merzcrew, described the vision, 

“Imagine entering the crew list roles needed for a project.  Enter as much information as you have from the Technical Director about what each role needs from equipment type, skills, certifications, location, budget, etc.  Gofer will then recommend the best tech for that role, whether it's a freelancer you've worked with a number of times or recommending someone new that could be an even better fit.  No more fear of failure or better options.  Now you know you've got the best-fit candidates to contact for your project.”  

This vision reflects a fundamental shift in how teams are built, replacing guesswork and stress with confidence and clarity. It’s a leap toward smarter, more strategic crewing that empowers both planners and crews alike.

Gofer was built with real-world challenges in mind. Whether you're scheduling a one-day activation or a months-long multi-city tour, Gofer helps you get the right techs, in the right place, at the right time, without the chaos. It’s not a generic scheduling software; it's built for your crew by Mertzcrew. 

A Smarter Future for Live Events

Gofer was designed to enhance, not replace, the expertise of live event schedulers. Fully integrated into the Mertzcrew software it works seamlessly within your existing workflow, with no new systems, no complicated setup. As an adaptive tool, Gofer gets smarter with every project you crew, learning from your selections and preferences to deliver even more relevant recommendations over time. But most importantly, you still stay in control. Gofer offers decision support, not
automation, empowering you to make faster, more informed choices while keeping the human element at the heart of every crew match.

Gofer is just the beginning of what’s possible.

Mertzcrew is actively investing in the future of AI-powered crew management, with new features and deeper intelligence already in the works. From greater customization to smarter, more proactive recommendations, we’re building tools that evolve alongside your team and with the industry itself.

In the coming months, you can expect:

• New ways to tailor Gofer’s suggestions to match your unique project preferences
• Enhanced insights to help you make even faster, more informed scheduling decisions
• Follow-up content like new blog posts and case studies that dig deeper into how Gofer works and how other teams are using it

At Mertzcrew, we know that live events never stand still, and neither should the tools you count on. Gofer marks a new chapter in adaptive crew scheduling, and we’re just getting started.

Enhance your account today by reaching out to support@mertzcrew.com to activate Gofer and experience it for yourself! Whether you're curious about how it works or ready to activate it, we’re here to help. 

More updates and resources are coming soon — so stay tuned!