How event facilitators are using AI to free up time and reinvest it in real connection.
As the GM of a busy venue in a glorious city, let me be clear: yes, I use AI. I use it to format proposals, organize task lists, draft emails, and clean up documents I need to share with clients or staff.
A mentor once told me to think of AI as a kind of “mini me” , a little assistant who handles the more mundane work, so I can focus on the meaningful stuff. And honestly? That’s exactly how it feels.
When I was a young woman living in Toronto, just starting out in my career, I had plenty of experience with monotonous tasks: filing paperwork, binding manuscripts, sorting, stacking, repeating. It was a deeply analog world and AI wasn’t even on the horizon.
But today, we have tools that can help us skip the drudgery. So why wouldn’t we use them?
If I boil down the essence of my job, it’s this: I’m a people person. I run a business, mentor my staff, and build relationships with clients and vendors - all for an in-person business. And the more time I spend out of spreadsheets and into conversations, the better I do my job.
With AI handling the heavy admin, I can use more of my own steam to power brainstorm sessions. I’m more creative, more available, and more energized to bring bold ideas to life.
Over the past six months, I’ve felt more energized than ever to connect with my events community. I’ve found myself more patient with clients, more curious about what other people are building, and prouder than ever to show up to industry events, not just at my own venue, but all over the city.
So no, this isn’t a post warning you off new tools. It’s an invitation to use them well.
Let the bots handle the humdrum. Use the time they free up to go to lunch with a mentor. Say yes to that coffee with a curious new mind. Plan the event of the season - and show up as your brightest, warmest, most human self. In real life.
Are you brainstorming your next IRL meet up? Get in touch with me - and we can chat about it… in person ;)
Great times connecting at The Permanent, IRL. Photo: Rachel Barkman