Do you have shoes on? Do you have grounding problems in this building?
It sounds like a lack of proper grounding ... try plugging the amplifier into a different power plug and see if the problem goes away or its characteristics change.
Put some shoes on if you are in bare feet. Sneakers. Something with a rubber sole.
It's not a bad cable from your description, it's an electrical pathway problem, where a poorly grounded connection is created when you touch the bodypack.
I am assuming you are merely "touching" the bodypack, as you describe ... not tapping on it ... if you are tapping on it to get the popping noise, then there could be something loose inside the bodypack, teensy weensy stuff.
For audio expertise and PA system help with feedback and noise, try our new DVD "PA Systems for Small Groups" at
www.rexark.com