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A Spares Kit That Stops a Show Going Dark

The small, cheap items that fail on a show night, and the case that should never leave the van without them.

~6 min read · Updated August 2026 · By the Stage Supply team

In this guide:Audio · Lighting · Power · Batteries · Tools · The case · Picks · FAQ

Shows are rarely stopped by expensive things failing. They are stopped by a two pound adaptor being in the other van, and by the one cable nobody thought to duplicate.

A spares case is cheap insurance and it pays for itself the first time it is opened. This is what belongs in it.

Audio spares

  • Two spare XLR cables of a useful length, and one very long one.
  • A spare jack lead and a spare instrument cable.
  • A spare DI box. Passive is the more useful spare because it needs no power.
  • Thread adaptors for microphone stands, several, see stand threads and adaptors.
  • A spare microphone clip and a spare windshield.
  • A spare vocal microphone. A dynamic, because it will work on anything.
  • XLR barrel connectors, male to male and female to female, for when a cable is the wrong gender.

Lighting spares

  • DMX adaptors, 3-pin to 5-pin and back, several of each.
  • A DMX terminator, see DMX adaptors and terminators.
  • A spare DMX cable.
  • Spare fuses for anything that takes them, in the right rating.
  • Safety-critical hardware for anything overhead, which is a matter for whoever is responsible for the rigging.

Power spares

  • Extension leads in more than one length.
  • IEC leads, several, because they walk.
  • A four-way, rubber not plastic.
  • Fuses, 3A, 5A and 13A.
  • A socket tester.

Batteries, the most common failure of all

Battery failure causes more show interruptions than equipment failure, and it is entirely preventable.

  • Fresh alkalines for anything critical, in the sizes your kit actually uses.
  • Charged spares for every rechargeable pack, charged that day rather than last week.
  • A charger in the case, not at home.
  • Label rechargeables with their purchase date. Cells age, and a three-year-old pack will not last a show.

Tools and consumables

  • Gaffer tape, and separately, electrical tape and PVC tape.
  • A multi-tool, a small screwdriver set, and a torch. Then a second torch.
  • Cable ties and a pair of side cutters.
  • A permanent marker and a roll of white tape for labelling.
  • Spare cable ties, because you will use them all.
  • A cloth and glass cleaner, for anything with a lens or a screen.

Keeping it a spares case

The failure mode of a spares case is that it becomes a general dumping ground, and the spare XLR is not in it when you need it.

  • Keep it separate from the working kit.
  • Restock it after every job, not before the next one.
  • One person owns it.
  • Do not raid it for a job and mean to put things back.

A four-drawer production case or a small road trunk does this job well, and gives you somewhere to work from at the side of stage.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most useful spare to carry?

Batteries and XLR cables, in that order. Between them they account for most of the failures that actually interrupt a show.

How many spare cables should I carry?

At least two spare XLRs and one spare of every other type in use. The right number is however many it takes for a single failure never to be a problem.

Do I need a spare microphone?

One dynamic vocal microphone, yes. It will substitute for almost anything at short notice, and it is the cheapest insurance in the case.

What goes wrong most often?

Batteries, cables and connectors, in that order. The expensive equipment is generally reliable. It is the cheap consumable items that stop shows.