I am going to ICES Convention this year and am also considering going to Cake Camp in Vegas....those of you who have been to Cake Camp or both..is one better than the other? Thanks for any input!!
I've been to both. Each is it's own "animal".
Cake Camp is geared toward hands on classes. Demos are few and far between. Classes are generally very inexpensive for the talent presenting them and time they take. The vendor room, up until now, has been fairly small, but carries a nice selection of products. The banquet and business meetings are very nice and not very intense.
ICES Convention is geared toward incredibly inexpensive demos with a few hands on classes (new just last year). It also incorporates a lot of sharing via the cake room show that has hundreds of member cakes displayed (no judging). The breakfast meeting is the business meeting for ICES and it's large and intense. Members sometimes ditch it, but they shouldn't. It's their organization and if they don't go to the meeting, they shouldn't complain later about the way ICES is run. The vendor room is huge and you'll probably find any "toy" you'd ever want or need.
I enjoy them both in their own right. I'll be out of town during Cake Camp this year and I'm pretty bummed about it. I'll be at ICES, though, and I'm looking forward to it.
I'm happiest in hands on classes, so I get my greatest joy at Cake Camp--and, of course, it costs more, too, but I also learn a lot at ICES, the shopping can't be beat, and the cake room show is amazing .
HTH
Rae
I went to Cake Camp for the first time last year and absolutely loved it!!! I thought the prices were great considering the caliber of the instructors and since I was flying in from MA, I also loved that most of the classes provided the supplies. I hope to have another chance to go to cake camp in the future - sadly I can't justify the cost this year since I need to have my house sided...
This year will be my first year at cake camp an I personally believe it's worth it to go. I live in Las Vegas, so I have the advantage on saving more cash. No plane tickets, no hotel fees and most of all, I don't have to worry about bringing my stuff to the plane.
I am new to the site and looking for ways to improve my skills. I have not heard of Cake Camp before. Can someone fill me in? Is it for the general public? Where is it, etc? Thanks!
You need to be a member of the California Cake Club in order to attend ($20/yr.) It's held in Las Vegas at the Riviera Hotel.
You can find it all at:
cakecamp.com
Rae
I am planning on attending both ICES and Cake Camp this year..for the first time both.
I will be flying in from Toronto to Las Vegas so not quite sure how I am going to take an pieces home
I can hardly wait...anyone else from Canada going to be down there?
I have not been to an ICES convention yet - but absolutely LOVE cake camp. I enjoy the hands on classes. The class sizes are all limited so you have a fair amount of individualized attention from the instructor. I take some classes that require you to bring items, however, try to take the classes where the instructors provide all materials. There are a large variety of classes, directed at a wide range of skills. I highly recommend attending if you can afford it.
I've been thinking about cake camp too. I'm from Canada as well dolcebaci! I was wondering if you have to be at a certain skill level to attend or are there classes for beginners?
This will be my 4th Cake Camp and it is great. Like everyone has said, the teachers are incredible. Where else can you take an 8 hour class with Collette Peters for just a couple of hundred dollars? Or Browen Weber or Nicholas Lodge or Toba Garrett?
I have never been to ICES (next year cause I live in San Diego!) but hear that Cake Camp has so many more hands-on experiences. My only suggestion is not to wait too long to decide cause once they open registration the big name teacher's classes fill up pretty fast (Another benefit, classes average about 25-30 people, small classes, more attention).
Also, it is smart to stay at the Riv. While it is definitely not the most luxurious hotel on the strip, it is really nice to be able to run up to your room between classses and grab your next supplies or anything you might have forgotten. The classes are pretty tight time wise and you would never be able to get to another hotel and back in between.
Hope to see everyone there!
I went to Cake Camp for the first time last year and LOVED IT. But I can't afford it this year. Between the registration and the cost of the hotel I would be broke before I could even sign up for a class.
Skills...I never think of it as I need a certian skill. I take classes to develople my skills.
I have been teaching now for 7 years and as I tell all my students we all have to start from some place!
It has been in Las Vegas for the last few years and I don't think there are any plans to move it.
Is it only once per year and is it always in September? I haven't been able to find this info on their website. Thanks.
Ooh, I wish I could go. I thought I'd be able to this year, but the economy is soo bad (hubby in Real Estate). Maybe next year. I think it would be so fun.
I read somewhere that there will not be a Cake Camp next year. The next one will be in 2011. This might be wrong, but I think it used to be held every other year.
RylanTy ... do you mind sharing why you won't be going anymore? It will be pretty expensive for me to go and I will have to deal with getting supplies there and getting finished items home, so I'm really struggling with my decision. I would love to have some input. Thanks.
No Cake Camp next year--2010-- because CA is hosting the ICES Convention in San Diego--just too much work for members of both organizations to host 2 such big events.
Camp has become so successful that I believe that it will continue to be a yearly event.
The Las Vegas venue is so reasonable when it comes to costs for classrooms and food, that at the moment, no place else seems to be able to compete with it. Participants and their families can also find so much to do there, that the location meets lots of needs.
Rae
I am planning to go. Just looking at the instructors. They are great.
I like to take Jet blue from NY to Las Vegas.
I look for classes that the supplies are provided. I like to travel light when I travel.
Martha- I decided not to go because I could no longer afford to get there. I will still go to the vendor area so I can check things out. I hope to see you there.
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