I',m a new Wilton Instructor...starting next week. Would love to know who on this site is a Wilton or other Cake Instructor. This site is sooo much better than the Wilton site. I'd really appreciate hearing from other instructors.

Thanks!!!!!

Mary Jane

I am a WMI!! Welcome to Cake Central... your new home!

Hi Mary Jane,

I've been a Wilton instructor for the past 2 years. I live just outside of Richmond, VA.

You're going to have a lot of fun. The first couple of classes are work, but then it's like hanging out with your girlfriends!

Good luck!

Debbie

Hey Mary Jane....

I have just completed my first 2 courses of being a WMI. It is work at first but soon it will be second nature and you will love it..I do.

Congrats!! and welcome to the cake side of life!!

Mel,

Hi Mary Jane-

I too am a WMI. I love it - It keeps me excited about cake decorating and it doesn't even feel like I am working. Plus it gives me a night away from the kids.

Hope you enjoy

Hi there, I am a WMI in Silverdale, WA. I am teaching my first class this month. It is alot of fun. I thought I would be really nervous, but after the first few minutes I was just fine.

Good Luck to you.

Hi:

I used to be a WMI but quit because:

1.-I hate paperwork
2.-I hate answering the same questions over and over
3.-I don't believe in Wilton products and techniques(they are useless in the real world)
4.-I don't like to know what I'm gonna be doing every thursday for the next year or so.
5.-Bad Education Coordinator.
6.-Low pay.

Should I keep going?............Nah!

My humble opinion.

I just became a wmi..am teaching my first class next week and am so looking foward to it.

I've been a Wilton instructor now for over 3 years in Hagerstown, MD, and I still enjoy it. After the 1st couple of classes, you don't have to do as much planning and you get used to it. It's great to share decorating with others, get away from the kids once a week, and make a little $ doing it. If you get a good store and coordinator, it makes all the difference. I've had good and bad, but it's still fun. I mix up the classes a little, change nights of the week to give different people a chance to do it, and I do an occasional project class for a change up. You'll learn a lot just from teaching others, believe it or not. Students have some crazy ideas, but often some good ones. They also ask things that make you find the answers, so that's good too. Definately try to pick up the Wilton 3 day seminar as soon as you can. They spend 3 days on the couses, teaching you to teach, and they're free. You get lots of free stuff, too!

Good luck and have fun!
Sugarnut

Hi there! Welcome to CC and becoming a WMI...I have been teaching at Michaels in Ottawa (as an WMI) for about 4 1/2 years and really like it. I second what sugarnut says. I find the $$ really good for getting to do what I love and I like Wilton product as it provides a good starting place for new to cake decorators. Keep everything in perspective and most of all don't let it stop being fun for you.

Good luck!

Yup, one too! For just over 2 years. Love every minute of it!

I'm sorry, what were we talking about... I was mezmerized by missyek's avatar and didn't hear a word anyone just said... soooooo dreamy... I LOVE him with blue eyes...

I've been teaching for a little over 2 years and I love it. I love sharing what I know with others and helping them enjoy a fun hobby. I've learned many things as from my students as well as I hope I have taught them many things.

There is a WMI that has set up a Yahoo E Group for WMIs only. It is a great place to go to get advice about teaching, advertising the classes, problems with your account and anything else you need. There are many, many seasoned WMIs there that have wonderful advice, ideas and inspiration.

To join send an email to [email protected].
Have your WMI # and Supervisors name handy as you will get asked them before getting on to the board.

I just got a call yesterday, asking me if I am interested in becoming a WMI. I am excited and nervous. Your comments give me confidence that it is fun and worth the time and effort. (And goodness knows, a night away from home wouldn't be so bad...) Should I do it? If you would - please look at my gallery and tell me if I am good enough to teach other people. Thanks!!

I've been a WMI since Feb. '06 ~ and I am having a blast teaching! I do 2 classes a week, and every 3rd month I do 3 classes a week. I would not do it if I thought it wasn't fun. If you go into it with a good attitude, you will be fine!

I think you would be a perfect WMI - Your cakes are gorgeous!

I am one as well. I really enjoy the time away from the kids ect every week and I get to practice pleanty. LOL. You really do become friends with your students, as a matter of fact a few of mine have become members on here since their classes and I couldn't be happier about that. GL with it and HAVE FUN!!!

I am NOT an instructor, but a student.
My only advice to all instructors is...
please be organized!! I wish my instructor would hand out a sheet telling us what to bring the following week. I have called her since she changed her mind so many times during the end of class on what to bring. I am a very organized person and it drives me crazy not knowing if I'm bringing the right stuff. It would make classes go much smoother. Thanks!

I am also a WMI in Somerville MA, just outside of Boston. I am only able to teach one night per week, but I find it enjoyable and fun.

As for being organized, the course booklet says what to bring each week, so I'm not sure why it would be a question.

I am also a part of the Yahoo Group mentioned on the previous page!

J

Just wanted to say that even though I have the book, etc., my teacher didn't go with it. I can honestly say we didn't go through a single lesson as the book is. My biggest problem was always knowing how much of what frostings to always bring. So maybe if it were like a text book type of deal I never would have been confused. So I understand when others don't know what to bring.

I've been teaching the Wilton Method for a year now and I really enjoy it as well. I have two stores and I couldn't have a better relationship with each EC! I look forward to each class because I've been fortunate enough to have had students that are anxious to learn and have fun doing it! There's never a night that goes by that the store associates don't hear us laughing.

As far as this problem...

...I'm very sorry you haven't been having a good experience with your class. Your instructor really shouldn't be calling herself a Wilton Instructor. I'm sure her Wilton Supervisor would tell her that same thing if they knew she wasn't following her Course books. I teach the Wilton Method, but I will admit that when I am doing my own cakes, I have my own way of doing alot of things. That just goes with having been baking and decorating for 25 years. Old habits die hard. I always tell my students that there are other ways of doing the rose, but the way Wilton shows to teach it truly is the easiest way to learn. This goes for many different things I teach. I'm sure most of us WMI's out here feel the same way.

Thanks for letting me chime in!
Gayle

I have been teaching since last March and have a great time teaching (95% if the time lol). Right now I am teaching 5 classes a week (2 daytime, 3 night time) and in October I will be adding 2 more classes a week. Plus I add project classes when I can. I find that I have to follow the class books very closely to keep organized, doing 2 level 1's in a day you cann't change to much. My advice, keep it fun, let people make mistakes and laugh alot, you'll get repeat students.

I too am a WMI. Have been since April 06. I love it! Its a night out away from the kids and I enjoy teaching others. I have had 2 students go on to be instructors. Advice keep it fun!

My daughter and I are both WMI's since last September for Hobby Lobby. I started initially and then she became my backup. Now we work together and pretty much go to each other's classes just because we have so much fun helping each other and it gives more hands on help to the student's. Of course, only one of use gets paid. Siince we both work fulltime, we do two clases a week, Course I every month, and alternate Course II and II every other month. We are required to have at least 4 students per class. So far we have only had two months where we did not hold classes. We are having a blast and when we have the opportunity, we try to attend the teacher's seminars and meetings.

We also live close enough to the Wilton HQ to attend some of the less-expensive classes at the location in Woodridge.

Have fun and enjoy the opportunity to meet the wide array of people you will encounter.

WMI here x 8 years. I just started teaching at Michael's (having last taught at Garden Ridge, who abruptly decided to quit offering Wilton classes). It's a fun, creative outlet and the people are great. I'm so glad to be back teaching after 7 months of not teaching!

~ Sherri

By the way, have any of you gotten your yearbook from Wilton yet this year? They are usually quite slow, but I wonder if because GR dumped all WMI's that we ex-GR instructors aren't going to get ours this year.