Gig Accessories: The ones that don’t get the spotlight
Introduction
When we musicians mention gig accessories, what do we usually think of? We think of everything that is not a musical instrument or is contributing to the sound in any way. Music stands, gig bags, tuners, drum sticks, picks, cables, stools, guitar straps, capos, drum rugs, microphone stands, gooseneck lights, and so on. They are the main stars of musicians’ accessories, you can see them, and they get the spotlight.
What about those accessories that we can’t see, that are making things run smoothly, organized, and neat? The ones that help us with transporting and setup, but never get mentioned. This is where you can find all of them in one place, their names and their roles.
This is a story about them…
1. The cable tamers
Cables are everywhere around musicians. If not tamed (tied) the right way, they will run loose and make a mess on stage. These little guys know what they’re doing. They will keep all your cables organized before, during, and after the gig.
Cable ties
The name says it all, they tie cables most simply. One end is fastened to the cable and the other is wrapped around the folded cable and fastened with a velcro end. They are cheap, you need them.
VELCRO Brand ONE-WRAP Cable Ties
Elastic cable ties
They work the same way ordinary cable ties do, only they are elastic and more heavy-duty than ordinary velcro-type cable ties. D’addario makes these fantastic elastic cable ties (nice rhyme!) that sell in sets of ten pieces. I use them all the time. They get kind of thinned after constant use but have never broken after a couple of years of use.
Elastic cable ties are also good for tying power cables.
Daddario PW-ECT-10 elastic cable ties
Snaps
If you use truss systems for your band’s lighting system, you have to get those power and DMX cables running up the sides and the main horizontal truss. It is not a nice picture when you see all those cables hanging loose on some parts, and it’s not easy running them through the middle of the truss construction either.
Plastic snaps are the solution. They are simply attached to the truss and they have an outer part that holds any cable so it runs alongside the truss in a straight line.
Smaller versions of plastic snaps for truss use are the ones used on microphone stands. They also make your microphone cables run along the stand.
2. Stage curtain connectors
Spannfix elastic chords
Spannfix elastic cords with plastic hooks. That’s what they are. They’re not usually used for tying cables like the accessories mentioned above but still can be used for that purpose. They are mostly used to fasten stage curtains that have pre-made eyelets to truss systems and stands. Many musicians use them for all kinds of fastening things to each other wherever needed on stage.
Stairville Spannfix Ø 4mm Black 12 pcs
Holdon clip-on eyelets
These clip-on eyelets are used together with spannfix elastic chords for attaching stage curtains that do not have eyelets. The great thing about them is that the stronger you pull the fastened clip-on it, the stronger they hold. They are practically indestructible due to the heavy-duty plastic material they are made of.
Holdon Clip Black
3. Small bags and containers: the bag-in-bag concept
Throwing a bunch of stands, cables, and other types of accessories into one big carrying bag makes it hard to manipulate the bag, and to find things we need afterward. To make things simple and easy try thinking of small bags and containers in bigger bags.
For example, we have a large bag where we put all our small stands (for guitar, music sheets,…), power strips, various adapters, and tools. It’s better to put all the adapters in a small pouch or a small plastic container just big enough to hold all of them. Place the tools in a small container also, and so on. Next time you get to your gig, you’ll be able to find everything instantly and the big bag will be more stable to carry because of fewer parts dancing around.
4. Adapters
Plugs
Adapter plugs are one of the most important gig accessories to have. There will always be situations where an XLR input on a monitor won’t work and you will have to use the jack input, where an adapter plug with the female XLR to the male jack will save you time instead of replacing the whole XLR cable with a special XLR to jack cable.
Think of all the options you could need and get two adapters of every type.
Thread Adapters
Not all microphone stands have the same thread size to screw the mic holder or clamp in place. You should always have a spare thin-to-wide and wide-to-thin thread adapter for mic stands.
Thread adapter
Pole Adapters
Sometimes a speaker stand will break and you will have to use a spare one but the diameter isn’t the same. Speaker stand or light stand adapters are a smart thing to have.
5. Tablet & phone holders
If you are planning on using a PC tablet for your lyrics and sets, you will need a tablet holder. They are attached to a microphone stand and you can adjust them to your likes in every possible way. The same goes with phone holders, either used as a lyric and set helper, or you just want your phone positioned on your mic stand. These holders are the truly modern gig accessories on this list.
Tablet holder
6. Tools
You don’t need to take a normal-sized or any specially-designed toolbox to your gigs. Since you won’t be needing lots of tools, any small container will do. I carry my screwdrivers, pliers, utility knife, and similar things in an old microphone pouch I had.
Then you can place this small tool bag in a case or gig bag, wherever you find it handy to be.
7. Duct tape
Nothing is as simple and useful as a piece of duct tape. It can literally save you in many situations. Just tear off a piece and the problem is solved. Always have some with you!
8. Musician’s cart
You will always get gigs where the stage is further from your parking spot than you would like it to be. Have at least a foldable cart with you so you don’t mess with your back too much.
conclusion
These are some of the best gig accessories you can use as a professional musician. These small guys will make your stage look nice, and save you a lot of time and space. Not only will everything look better on stage, but there will be less reason for stress.
What type of accessories do you use for gigs? How do they help you? Feel free to leave a comment.
