What would you consider to be the essentials of the average live event? At the top of most people’s lists would be live entertainment such as bands or comedians, while security would also be pretty high up there. Refreshments, video screens and lighting – all are essential and all are key aspects of organising a live event that most people would prioritise. But how would you go about hooking up all that lighting and powering it efficiently and reliably? What about that big video screen? How would you go about transmitting an uninterrupted feed from a camera in the audience to that screen? The answer is simple; custom cables. Considering what cables you’re going to need for a live event isn’t exactly the most romantic or glamorous of tasks but it’s easily one of the most important. You might think that all of the equipment you either purchase or hire will come with the ideal cable but often this isn’t the case; every event is different and places different demands on cabling. This is where custom cables come in. If you’re organising a live event, custom cables should be at the top of your shopping list – every event demands different audio, visual, power and data requirements. You could shop around for pre-built cables that match these demands but the chances are you’ll end up with a mishmash of cables and a very messy set-up; imagine the average tangle you get around a multi plug adapter at home but on a much larger scale! A far easier and efficient option is to invest in custom cables. So, what should you be looking for?

What Makes A Good Event Cable?

Unfortunately, there’s no single answer to what makes for a good event cable as the requirements of different events can vary wildly.  Your requirements will ultimately determine the ideal cable for you, with cables constructed based on the level of performance required and environmental factors. The average live event will require cables to a perform a broad range of functions; audio, visual, data transmission and power being just a few. Having all of these different demands usually means having a lot of different cables. However, a custom cable can actually incorporate all of these elements into a single cable; for example, a video screen can be powered, have a feed transmitted to it and have its AV requirements dealt with via one cable rather than four. Environmental factors also play a big part in cable design, with a great deal of events being held outside and thus leaving cables exposed to the elements. A well-designed cable for outdoor purposes should incorporate cable shielding to ensure that the cable functions whatever the weather. Events with a lot of attendees also tend to be subject to a lot of electromagnetic interference, with each attendee usually owning a phone. The combined power of these phones can be quite disruptive so it’s important to ensure that your cable can stand up to this. A screened cable will usually do the trick. If you’re organising a live event then whatever you do, don’t forget about the cables! Get in touch with Custom Designed Cables to discuss your requirements; our cable designers will able to produce the right cable for you no matter what you need.