Karaoke Forums

Over the years the time, energy, and money I've invested in duct tape, gaffer's tape, and bundling tape would probably have purchased a fleet of Cadillacs. I've always been paranoid about ensuring every wire and cable were securely taped down, lest some twit trips and sues me for all the money in the world.

Then (and it only took me 35 years to figure it out), I realized I could save 90% of the time & effort, and almost all of the dollars with a one-time investment. Carpets.

Both venues where I normally play have carpeting in the DJ/KJ areas. So, it seemed to me, all I had to do was purchase some carpet "runner"... cut it to the appropriate lengths to fit each venue (2 @ 4' and 1 @ 9')... and voila - no more duct taping.

Problem was... they kept slipping on the cables everytime someone would walk on them.

The answer was to purchase some bulk Velcro (just the hook part)... take everything to a shoe repair place... and have them sew the Velcro on the bottom around the edges..

It works like a charm.

Total investment... Carpet $42. Velcro $14. Sewing $35.

Added bonus... no more sticky goo on the cables... easier on my back not having to bend down to do all that taping.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

Very cool idea. Thank you for sharing it with us all.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Yup, been doing it for decades. Velcro the cables, then lay them under a carpet runner.

Price adjustment from the $10 and down store:

6 foot runner: $10

8 velcro ties: ONE DOLLAR

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

I use to do the duct tape thing as well.

Now I use thick, heavy, rubberized 'welcome' matts I got from Home Depot for $10 a piece. No velcro required. I just lay the wire, and the rubber and the weight of the carpets keeps them in place. Quick and easy.

Also nice to put behind the DJ table to stand on, over the hard bar floor. Keeps the feet from being too sore at the end of the night.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

The velcro is the way to go. Even though goo b gone gets the duct tape residue off things with no problems.

We don't use anything.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I look at it like this, I am a professional. I will not allow a chance for anyone to trip over any of my cables. I use carpet, and tape the two sides they will approach the carpet from, down to the floor. I tried duct tape the first time I did a gig (family gig in the basement) and I hated what it did to my cables so since then, I've used painters tape.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

i preferred using velco ties, but for some bizarre reason, I had a real knack for losing them when i was hosting.

this is part of why i am wireless everything.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

Rip's way is what I do, also. I got some matching carpet samples from the Dollar Store so I can line them up to different lengths and then use a color coordinated tape down the long edges. The cheapo colored tape comes up easily and doesn't leave a residue on the floor. I have even wound it back onto the spool and reused it if it didn't get to gravelly. If we were on carpet, the velcro idea would be superior but so far no carpet venues for us.

i try avoiding setting up anywhere that may have any cords exposed to the croud....
and i always setup with 1 or 2 folding tables so i can block off traffic and run cables along the tables and against walls.

now the outside alive at 5 events i do, my 100ft extension cable is taped down with wide painters tape. but that's the only time i've ever needed to use tape.

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It's all good!

It's the TV. All of the other cords I can keep out of the way. If you are in a place where there isn't a defined stage so you can't run things along the front then you have a run going from the table to the TV.

Our shows are all on wood or concrete floors. If I have to run a cable where it is exposed to foot traffic will use cord protector strip & and tape it down. As for tape - gaffers tape.