Black Cat Music are off to NAME Conference

Alice Dagger and Brigitte Downs of Black Cat Music are looking forward to exhibiting at the NAME National Conference 2012 which takes place at Yarnfield Park in Staffordshire this weekend on the 5th and 6th October. 

Conference delegates are invited to drop by the Black Cat Music exhibition stand where examples from their comprehensive range of music education and performance equipment will be on display and collect their ‘NAME Conference Discount voucher.’ 

The NAME National Conference 2012, “Crossing Frontiers in Music Education” aimed at music teaching professionals, opens Friday 5th October at Yarnfield Park Conference Centre, Stone, Staffordshire. Training, development and critical debate are on the agenda at a time the organisers describe as one of “dramatic change” – a conference “that all music educators need to attend.”

Black Cat Music to attend abcd Convention

Members of the Black Cat Music team are looking forward to attending the abcd Annual Convention which takes place at Leeds Metropolitan University, 24 – 26th August. 

Exhibiting during the Bank Holiday weekend Convention, Black Cat Music will display products from the company’s Conductors Equipment series which includes stands, podiums, chairs – even a baton - plus a comprehensive range of music education and performance equipment. 

As the “UK’s only organisation devoted to people who lead choirs,” the organisers say, “Our twenty-seventh Annual Convention takes us up to Yorkshire, where we last held Convention back in 2002, but to the new location of Leeds. Like Birmingham, Leeds has a long history of culture and specifically of choral music, and Convention will make the most of the Yorkshire choral connection.” 

Club house noise problems quietened by Black Cat Acoustics

Graham Callard

In 2011 Crowborough Rugby Club said farewell to the old club house that had served them since 1960 and quickly realised that there was a noise problem in their new building. Time to call in Black Cat Acoustics. 

In the words of club Chairman and Commercial Director, Graham Callard, “The acoustics were terrible”. He continued, “We had some early parties and people could not hear themselves speak.” This prompted Crowborough Rugby Club to look for a solution and Black Cat Acoustics were recommended. Graham continued, “We set two criteria – the quality of the acoustic panels to do what they say they are going to do and of course the aesthetics. Black Cat Acoustics met both criteria and the people we worked with were excellent.” Describing the experience of engaging Black Cat Acoustics, Graham Callard said, “The survey was done very quickly, very professionally with good advice. The fitting was just superb. Dates were agreed in advance and delivered on time.” 

Clearly delighted with the transformation of the ‘block and brick’ club house into an aesthetically and acoustically pleasing environment, Graham said, “It has made a tremendous difference. Before four people could not hold a conversation without the noise reverberating round the walls. Imagine a hundred people with music in the background – it would be deafening.” He went on to add that he had already recommended Black Cat Acoustics to another rugby club with similar problems. The full interview with Graham Callard can be viewed on YouTube. 

Black Cat Music rolls out new online store for Germany

Black Cat Music, a leading supplier of equipment for music performance and education, has announced the introduction of a new e-commerce website to serve its customers in Germany. 

Speaking about this week’s launch, Marketing Manager, Alice Dagger explained, “ Black Cat Music is now selling its products online across the whole of Germany, as well as the United Kingdom.” Alice continued, “ This is an exciting new development for Black Cat Music enabling the company to reach out to its steadily growing market in Germany. German musicians, music teachers and orchestra managers, like their UK counterparts, lead busy lives, and the new e-commerce website will enable them to obtain the quality music equipment they need much more quickly and easily.” 

The new online store offers access to the extensive Wenger product range and many other leading brands in the music performance equipment market. Black Cat Music has a long and successful partnership with Wenger Corporation, the largest manufacturer of fully-guaranteed staging and music performance equipment in the world and is Wenger’s master distributor in Europe and Russia. 

With the popularity of online shopping Black Cat Music has been at the forefront of providing a web site where customers can browse and buy online, watch video demonstrations that show how products work and read user recommendations or add their own product reviews. A range of payment options including credit cards, Sage Pay and Purchase Order by prior arrangement is available. 

Black Cat Music are Platinum Sponsors of Music Education Expo

Black Cat Music and partner company MusicPracticeRooms.com are pleased to announce that they have signed up as Platinum Sponsors of the Music Education Expo 2013 event at London’s Barbican venue, 20/21 March 2013. 

Black Cat Music will be exhibiting a wide range of its music performance equipment including music stands, staging, choral risers, music folders and conductors' equipment. Black Cat Music has exclusive distributorship of Wenger Corporation’s extensive product range - acknowledged as the largest manufacturer of fully-guaranteed staging and music performance equipment in the world. 

When it comes to noise control problems Black Cat Music offers various standard and custom acoustic solutions including sound-isolating, modular Music Practice Rooms from MusicPracticeRooms.com. Visitors to Music Education Expo 2013 can discover more when Black Cat Music's sister company, Black Cat Acoustics conduct a seminar for music teachers during the conference part of the event. Talking to the theme of “Solving Your Acoustic Problems” this helpful seminar will discuss common problems facing music departments and discuss some practical solutions. 

Described as “the largest gathering of music education professionals in the UK,” event organisers Rhinegold promise, “The UK’s most comprehensive music education event. Comprising a major exhibition, a dynamic educational programme and exceptional networking opportunities, this two-day event offers music educational professionals a highly rewarding experience - both professionally and personally.” 

Finally, Black Cat Music has great pleasure in sponsoring an award at the inaugural Music Education Awards & Gala dinner on the evening of the 20th March in the Barbican’s Conservatory and Garden Room. 

Black Cat Music at 30

Founder Bob Dagger (right) pictured with agent John Benson

The Black Cat Music story started in a small Kent village back in 1982 with a company founded by local entrepreneur Bob Dagger and staffed by just two people. The quirky Black Cat brand name and logo was to come later as the fledgling company, then known as Kent Mercantile Ltd, soon grew into a leading supplier of music education and performance equipment. 

An important factor in the success of Black Cat Music has been the long association with the Wenger Corporation and exclusive distributorship, initially just in the United Kingdom and Ireland, of Wenger’s extensive product range. Wenger is unchallenged as the largest manufacturer of fully-guaranteed staging and music performance equipment in the world. The partnership has proved both enduring and so successful that in 2008 Wenger extended the franchise to include Europe and Russia, where Black Cat Music Europe is now Master Distributor for Wenger. 

To Wenger’s excellent range Black Cat Music has over time added other speciality music equipment, such as music folders and other popular products, as a convenience to the company’s extensive and loyal customer base. This has provided a ‘one-stop-shop’ where everything to do with performance equipment can be bought. For example, the company stocks literally thousands of music stands and offers the same care and service to customers, whether they are buying just one stand for personal use, or several dozen for the concert platform or rehearsal room. 

With the popularity of online shopping Black Cat Music has been at the forefront of providing a web site where customers can browse and buy online, watch video demonstrations that show how products work and read user recommendations or add product reviews. But for those who appreciate the personal touch, then the friendly and knowledgeable Black Cat sales team are there to provide telephone support and advice. Customers can keep in touch with Black Cat Music by requesting a comprehensive catalogue and signing up for a monthly newsletter that also contains details of special price deals. Another initiative offered is for UK buyers involved in education who can apply to enjoy a special discount on purchases for their school or college. 

Black Cat Music today also offer solutions for solving noise and other acoustics problems that are all too frequently issues in schools and other venues where music is rehearsed or performed. In response to requests for help in dealing with noise control and a need to improve acoustics, Black Cat Acoustics was set up to recommend and install suitable treatments for individual circumstances. But also in the product portfolio Black Cat Music offers standard products such as acoustic shells and more recently has added self contained music practice rooms which considerably extends the company’s capability in delivering acoustics solutions. 

The first thirty years have seen an expansion of the company (now based in Tonbridge), a more extensive range of products and a pan-European customer base. Reflecting back on this time, founder Bob Dagger said,”We’ve come a long way since we started out in a small office on a village high street back in the early 80’s. It’s very gratifying to see orders come in, not just from the UK, but from schools, music schools, conservatoires, choirs and orchestras from far-flung corners of Europe and Russia.” He added, “Another thing that strikes me is the growing number of company cars in our car park.” 

And a final thought. Ever wonder what inspired the Black Cat logo? Hoping for luck? A family pet? No, the adoption of the Black Cat name and logo owes its origin to Bob Dagger’s favourite song: ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’. This was the tune that used to feature on the Black Cat headed paper, stationery and even the free mugs which are still given out to members of the Education Discount Scheme. 

July special prices on Encore chair

With correct seated posture a vital consideration for musicians, the current discounted price on offer from Black Cat Music makes July a great time to buy the Encore Chair designed specially for musicians. The result of considerable research and development, the Encore Chair offers both comfort and posture support for seated musicians. Thanks to the curved ‘waterfall’ leading seat edge, musicians are able to sit comfortably in a more upright and poised position, while the slender back gives plenty of room for arm movements when playing. The seat and back panel are fitted to a sturdy tubular frame and can be supplied in other fabric colours as an alternative to the standard black. Seats can be ordered for either 470 mm or 490 mm height above floor, with an option for alternative heights available to special order. For full details of the Encore Chair and to take advantage of this special offer visit www.blackcatmusic.co.uk