How do you manage all your cables? (live band)

[Willem]

if you don't want to buy a whole roll of velcros you can always put a rubber band around a little stick and put that around your cables

[glu]

we also used to have our drummer's set halfway set up, with simmon pads and all, usually on the side of the stage. That saved time. Also, pick two really good friends, pay their way in, and have them help carry amps, stands, etc.

[hambone1]

I've got as much pre-wired as practical. And everything pre-wired is labelled, cables shortened, and velcroed or cable-tied in place. Everything goes in labelled flight cases with custom-cut foam inserts that load into and out of the van in the same order each time. I made up a checklist so I don't forget anything.

All AC, DC, audio, VGA, XLR, DMX, Firewire, USB, DVI, VISCA, S-Video, and composite video connections are shortened to the correct length, color-coded, and labelled. You can buy colored glands to make this easy, or use colored electrical tape and a labelmaker.

Practice makes perfect! Set up and break down the same way each time. Each band member should have specific tasks. The more you do it, the better you'll get at it. And putting everything away at the end of a gig in the same order helps, too.