How to Look After
Your Hired Cables

When arranging speaker hire, your event's success depends on every part working perfectly. However, the most common point of failure isn't the speakers or the mixer—it's the humble cable.

A single damaged cable can lead to crackles, hums, or a total loss of sound right in the middle of a speech or song. Here is a simple guide on how to handle hired cables to ensure your event runs smoothly.

1. Plugging and Unplugging: The Right Way

This is the most common way plugs get damaged.

• Hold the Connector, Not the Cable: When unplugging any cable (especially microphone or power leads), always grip the solid plastic or metal connector at the end.
• Never Pull or Yank the Wire: Pulling on the wire itself puts all the strain on the tiny, fragile connection points inside the plug. This is the #1 cause of cable failure.
• Look for the Latch: XLR (microphone) cables have a small silver push-button "latch" on the connector. You must press this button down before you can pull the plug out. Never force it.

2. Coiling Cables (The #1 Tip from the Pros)

This is the most important part of cable care. Please avoid wrapping cables tightly around your elbow and hand.

That method twists the cable in the same direction repeatedly, stressing the internal wires and leading to knots, kinks, and breakage. Instead, use the "Over-Under" (or "Roadie Wrap") method to keep the cable healthy.

1. Hold the connector in one hand.
2. With your other hand, create a normal loop (the "Over").
3. For the next loop, twist your hand under to create a loop that goes in the opposite direction (the "Under").
4. Alternate "Over," then "Under," then "Over"...
5. Secure it with the supplied cable tie.

When you uncoil a cable wrapped this way, just hold the end and walk away—it will unroll perfectly with zero knots.

3. On-Site Safety and Layout

How you lay your cables is a crucial part of your speaker hire setup.

• Avoid "Tripwires": Don't run cables across high-traffic walkways or doorways. If you must cross a path, tape them down securely.
• Use Gaffer Tape: Only use proper Gaffer Tape (which we can supply) for securing cables to the floor. Other tapes (like Duct Tape or packing tape) leave a sticky, damaging residue.
• No Sharp Bends: Don't force a cable into a sharp 90-degree angle (like against a wall or out of a mixer). Give it a smooth, gentle curve.
• Watch for Pinch Points: Be careful not to roll heavy items (like speaker boxes, road cases, or bar carts) over the cables. This can crush the sensitive wires inside.

A little bit of care guarantees your speaker hire yields perfect, uninterrupted sound and ensures the gear stays in great condition for the next user.