Do More With Less Using AI (Issue 08)

THE PROBLEM: You know AI could help, but with hundreds of event tasks, where do you even start? You're wasting time on "random acts of AI" - trying to automate the wrong things while missing massive opportunities sitting right in front of you.

THE SOLUTION: The AI Readiness Check GPT evaluates your entire workflow based on the tasks I’ve actually tried to solve using AI. It calculates your personalized AI readiness score and shows you exactly which tasks to automate first for maximum ROI.

HOW IT WORKS:

The Auditor takes you through a structured assessment:

1. Context Gathering - Your event types, team size, current AI usage

2. Workflow Mapping - Deep dive into your biggest time drains

3. Scoring Analysis - Maps your tasks against the proven 0-10 framework

4. Personalized Roadmap - Your specific implementation plan with expected time savings

What Makes This Different:

Unlike generic AI advice, this GPT:

• Knows that Market Research scores 10/10 while Image Generation for venue layouts scores 2/10

• Calculates YOUR specific potential time savings

• Recommends which GPTs to build or use based on YOUR workflow

• Warns you what NOT to automate (saving you from costly mistakes)

Real Example Output: "Based on your 15 hours weekly on stakeholder communications, that's your #1 opportunity (scores 9/10). Building an AI Event Twin would save you 10-12 hours weekly - that's $3,000 monthly value from a $20 subscription. Here's exactly how to build it..."

The Power of Systematic Assessment:

This isn't another "10 AI prompts for events" list. The Auditor uses the comprehensive framework I've developed through:

• 100+ event planner interviews

• Hours of testing and building custom GPTs for event professional usecases

• Discussions with many experts on the forefront of AI

Start your assessment now - it’s free, takes 5 minutes, and could save you 20+ hours monthly. I’m super excited for you to try the first version, and would love to hear your feedback!

When using AI, you want to attack your worst pain points first, but the hard part is knowing how easily AI can do them. Without testing, it’s hard to know where they score on AI readiness, and could be a 3 or 4/10 - high effort, low success rate. You get frustrated and give up. Instead, you should build momentum with the 9-10 tasks that work brilliantly TODAY.

Every single event task can be scored on a 0-10 scale of AI readiness. Start with structure and repeatability:

The 10/10 Perfect Scores:

• Market Research: Competitor analysis, trend identification, sponsor research

• FAQ Generation: Comprehensive answers that save you that extra bit of time

The 7-8/10 Strong Wins:

• Content Creation: 50 speaker bios in 30 minutes

• Timeline Generation: 4 hours → 30 minutes

• Theme Ideation: Get a spark of creativity you haven’t thought of

What NOT to Automate (0-3/10):

• Client relationship building

• Creative event design

• On-site crisis management

• Vendor negotiations

The Implementation Formula:

1. Calculate Your Score: Hours spent × Framework score = Priority

2. Start with 9-10s: Guaranteed wins build confidence

3. Expand to 7-8s: Strong ROI with minimal setup

4. Tackle 5-6s carefully: Hybrid approach required

5. Enjoy the 0s and avoid the 1-3: Keep these human

Includes scoring for 5+ event tasks, with general implementation instructions.

Most virtual entertainment fails because it tries to replicate in-person experiences. Simon Pierro does the opposite - he creates moments that are ONLY possible through screens.

Simon Pierro just won Virtual Act of the Year at FISM (think of it as the Olympics of magic), proving that digital entertainment is more than just a pandemic compromise - it's a permanent new category of excellence.

The Screen-as-Feature Philosophy:

While everyone else was lamenting Zoom fatigue and trying to recreate stage magic through webcams, Simon recognized a fundamental truth: screens aren't a limitation to work around, they're a medium to work WITH.

His magic doesn't succeed despite being digital - it succeeds because it's digital. Objects pass through screens, reality bends in ways impossible on stage, and every attendee becomes part of the performance.

Three Lessons for Event Professionals:

1. Stop Fighting the Medium Virtual events fail when they pretend to be in-person. Just like Simon leans into what makes digital unique, your virtual components should do things ONLY possible online - breakouts that reorganize instantly, parallel sessions attendees can sample, global participation without travel.

2. Interaction Beats Observation Simon doesn't perform at audiences through screens; he performs with them. Your screen becomes a portal, your environment becomes the stage. Apply this to events by thinking about how to make attendees co-creators, not viewers.

3. Excellence Has No Geography As Simon notes: "When you can transform any screen into a portal of wonder, geography becomes irrelevant. One performance can simultaneously reach Tokyo, New York, and São Paulo with the same impact as being there in person."

The Business Case:

Simon's FISM win goes beyond artistic validation. It's proof that virtual elements can command premium value. Your virtual components shouldn’t be thought of as consolation prizes for those who can't attend; but as unique experiences that justify separate attention.

Just as Simon works WITH screens rather than against them, we need to work WITH AI's strengths (structured tasks) rather than forcing it where it doesn't belong (relationships).

Want to bring Simon's magic to your next event? In addition to being the newly crowned FISM Virtual Act of the Year winner, he also does AI magic, and is best known for his title as the IPad magician. Book him through Speak About AI or reply to this email for details.

🎯 Senior Event Planner @ Cognizant (Teaneck, NJ | Remote) – Plan and manage global client-facing events across business units including tradeshows, summits, and D&I events. Strong B2B/B2C focus with Cvent expertise required. $70,000–$90,000 + bonus. Apply here

💼 Director, Meeting Planning @ Shionogi Inc. (Florham Park, NJ | Hybrid) – Lead all non-HCP meetings including national sales meetings and C-suite events. 8-10 years corporate experience required, pharma preferred. $180,000–$210,000 + bonus. Apply here

🚀 Event Planner @ Sompo (New York, NY | On-site) – Plan and execute client and broker receptions, outings, and trade conference events. Manage budgets, vendors, and on-site operations. 4+ years preferred. $90,000–$135,000/year. Posted 1 day ago. Apply here

🎪 Events & Partnerships Specialist @ OnPoint Community Credit Union (Portland, OR | On-site) – Execute high-profile brand activations with OSAA and Live Nation. Lead concert and championship event logistics, track ROI. 4+ years experience required. Posted 1 week ago. Apply here

Check out the full spreadsheet with 100+ up-to-date event jobs here.

Are you hiring? I can spread the word. Reply to this email with any job opportunities and I’ll add it to the sheet!