Live Event Cable Management Guide
At live events—especially in the pro audio/video world—Live Event cable management is critical for safety, performance, and speed of setup/teardown. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types of products used for live event cable management and concert cable management:
1. Hook & Loop Straps (VELCRO®, Cord-Lox®, SPEEDWRAP®)
Used for bundling and organizing XLR, power, DMX, and audio/video cables, Hook & Loop Straps are reusable, fast, non-damaging to cables. Popular styles include Cinch straps, Back-to-back rolls (cut-to-length), and Pre-printed/colored versions for labeling or identification.
2. Gaffer Tape
Used for securing cables to floors and stages for Concert cable management, Gaffer tape will hold strong with no residue. Note: Not for bundling—purely for taping down cords and safety for cable organization for events.
3. Cable Ramps / Cable Protectors
To prevent tripping hazards and protect expensive cables, Cable Ramps / Cable Protectors are designed for running power and AV cables across foot traffic or vehicle paths. Common brands include: Yellow Jacket, Checkers, and Linebacker.
4. Plastic Zip Ties
Used for semi-permanent cable bundles or securing to trusses, Zip Ties are cheap and strong, but overtightening can damage cables and they’re not reusable. Cutting to remove can harm expensive cables and workers.
5. Cable Hangers / Lacing Bars
Used for hanging or routing cables on truss or lighting rigs, Cable Hangers / Lacing Bars keep bundles elevated and out of the way. Variations include: Carabiner-style, S-hooks, or VELCRO® Brand
6. Snake Cables & Looms
For fewer cables to manage and cleaner setup, use Snake Cables & Looms for running multiple audio/video lines through a single jacket.
7. Cable Sleeves / Braided Looms
To organize multiple cables into one clean-looking bundle, use Cable Sleeves / Braided Looms for aesthetic appeal on camera-facing setups or front-of-house gear.
8. Cable Labeling Products
Used for ID and routing management, Cable Labeling Products prevent mispatching and reduce setup time. Products include Write-on labels, Color-coded wraps and Custom printed VELCRO® straps.
With over 30 years of manufacturing and fabrication experience, we will focus our advice on our area of expertise: hook and loop.
How to Manage Cables for Live Events Using Cord-Lox® and VELCRO® Brand Products
At live events, VELCRO® Brand products and Cord-Lox® straps, are used for bundling, organizing, routing, and identifying cables. They help with faster setup and tear-down, easier troubleshooting, safer stages, and more organized cable storage, concert cable management or cable organization for events.
VELCRO® Brand Products
For live event applications, both VELCRO® ONE-WRAP® brand cable ties and cut-to-length tapes are popular. These bundling ties are ideal fasteners for cord organization, wire management, and securing loose or extra-long cords out of the way to eliminate tripping hazards. Other highlights include:
- STRONG AND REUSABLE – Used by lighting, audio and video pros, these fasteners can be reused and repositioned, allowing convenient access when arranging computer, appliances and electronic wires
- PRE-CUT AND EASY TO USE – ONE-WRAP® brand cable ties stay firmly in place with an easy to use slotted head; simply insert the rounded end through the hole and pull the strap tight; it firmly wraps onto itself for a secure hold
- INDOOR OR OUTDOOR USE – With multi-use options in Live Event Cable Management space, these ONE-WRAP® brand cable ties and tapes can safely be used indoors or outdoors for your organizing and storage needs
Cord-Lox® The Professional’s Choice For Routing, Securing and Labeling Audio & Video Cables
The Cord-Lox® line of hook and loop fasteners were designed by pros for the pros. The line includes innovative designs including straps that rivet onto cables, solutions for carrying and storage and cable marking.
Our Rivet Strap, Closed Loop, Open Loop, Y Series Strap, and Coil’n’Carry Strap deliver high-quality cable control. Cord-Lox® straps are perfect for most A/V applications whether you’re bundling and organizing mic, XLR, power, DMX, or audio/video cables
Pre-printed/colored fasteners for labeling or cable identification
The entire Cord-Lox® line of Professional grade fasteners are available in a variety of colors and sizes, TFI Custom Fabrication also offers custom printing options for your cable ties, tapes, and fasteners with your company name, logo, or contact information. Contact us today to get started with your first order of custom printed cable ties and fasteners.
Audio
The pros who purchase and dress all their cables with Cord-Lox® are concerned with quality. They place a value on their time both onstage or in the warehouse. They feel even the ‘look’ of the cables on their trusses or around a venue are a proxy on the quality of their work.
Whether you’re looking for concert cable management, cable organization for events, or other live event cable management solutions, audio and video professionals are looking for a high-quality fastener for bundling, organizing, routing, or identifying your cables, contact us today for pricing or one-on-one guidance.
Click here to read how Mike Fooshee of Frontier Music Inc. uses Cord-Lox® to manage the stage at the WinStar World Casino & Resort—the largest Casino in the world.
Lighting
In theatrical, film, and live-event environments, a lighting director’s job is equal parts creative vision and technical discipline. While much attention is given to fixture placement and cue execution, cable organization for events often goes overlooked—until it causes a safety issue or operational failure.
Well-managed cabling is a foundational part of successful lighting design. It supports faster setup and teardown, enhances safety, and protects your equipment investment. For lighting directors, mastering cable management is not optional—it’s essential.
According to Jon Tossarello, Production Manager and Lighting Designer/Director, he wouldn’t allow his crew to leave ties or wires sagging from overhead lighting trusses.
“Under no circumstances will I have a client like General Motors who spent thousands on a booth, look up and see sagging cables. How the trusses and even behind-the-scenes power, audio, and lighting cables look is a reflection on me.” Click here for another look into how a customer puts Cord-Lox® to use in the Live Event space.
Video
In the fast-paced world of video production, where every second counts and quality is paramount, cable management is often the unsung hero of a successful shoot. Whether you’re working on a multi-camera studio setup, a live event, or a guerrilla-style documentary in the field, clean and efficient cable management ensures not only safety and organization but also signal integrity and professional delivery.
John Zdon, an audio and visual professional, explains. “I do sports remotes and in this work we do hundreds of setup and tear downs a year. There’s a lot of hook and loop products out there, but I use Cord-Lox®. While the innovative design is world-class, but what I appreciate the most is the ruggedness of the materials. It’s a superior product when it comes to durability and effectiveness.”
Must-Haves for Concert and Live Event Cable Management
1. Cable Bundling
Use Cord-Lox® Brand straps to bundle cables: a great reusable option for easy cable bundling and adjustments.
2. Cable Routing and Protection
Floor cord protectors cover cables on the floor to protect them from foot traffic.
3. Labeling
For cable labels, use write-on straps to mark each cable with its function and connection point for easy identification.
4. Custom Printing
The makers of Cord-Lox® offer custom printed cable ties, Cord-Lox® straps, cinch straps, continuous-length tapes, VELCRO® Brand products, and other materials.
5. Storage and Maintenance
Avoid tightly coiling cables to prevent damage to the internal wiring.
Need to Bundle, Identify or Secure Cables for your Next Live Event?
Cables are hardly the most glamorous part of a performance. But without them, nothing works.
Most technicians and venues have their favorite or gaffer tapes, loops, cable trays or brands of nylon zip-ties. And yes, veterans in the business love tie line!
But when it comes to using hook and loop there’s a huge difference from one brand to another.
Don’t put your audio, video or lighting cabling’s infrastructure at risk with cheap and poorly made hook and loop fasteners. For help choosing the right VELCRO® or Cord-Lox® Brand Product including samples or a competitive quote, contact us today.
Case Study
FROST Florida offers full-service event production – lighting, staging, and video projection for weddings, corporate events, galas, concerts, and special events.
FROST Florida needed a solution for mobile cable management because other options they had used had broken, were not strong enough, or were removed or lost at the production venues.
With Cord-Lox® as an event cable management solution, cable bundles were strong, secure, and easy to transport. Long durability meant no need for replacement even after many years of on-the-road use. And because FROST Florida printed their brand identity on the Cord-Lox® straps, they dramatically reduced the incidence of loss during their shows.
“These straps are the absolute best!!! I love how they hold the coil tight and intact for the next use even when they are piled up in a road case. Way better than using tie-line!” – Nicolas, Audio Engineer for FROST Florida
“As a company we have been using different versions of VELCRO® Brand products, Tie-Line, even electrical tape when the other options fail or are removed on show sites. The Cord-Lox® VELCRO® brand products are the only option that not only work great with our cables, but last multiple years before any real maintenance must be done. All other options do not hold up to the resilience and strength of the Cord-Lox® straps at all. Not to mention the beautiful branding that it gives us on site. The printing is beautiful. I will be only using these straps for all our cables for the foreseeable future!“ – Micah, Audio Director for FROST Florida
