I'm Gonna Be An Instructor!
Decorating By mommabuda Updated 28 Apr 2007 , 3:46pm by KonfectionKonnection
i got a phone call this afternoon (i wasn't home at the time) but they said they were interested in hiring me to teach... the store is a half hour away which kinda stinks but i figured i would give it a try and see how it goes... at least it's something! i've been unemployed for over a year now (my place of work closed down and then i had a baby so i just stayed home) but i'm finally ready to get back out there... any advice?
Hobby Lobby... that's where I took the classes, I was hoping I would get a job here in my home town but my teacher is still teaching at this store so they asked me to do the one about a half hour away. I'll probably just book 2 classes at once though so I can just stay there for 4 hours and it'll be more worth my time, not just driving back and forth... I'm already nervous! Does anyone know what the pay is? I've asked this already but can't remember what it is... I'm just glad to be making a little extra again.
I was an instructor for a few months. I don;t want to be a downer but its not an easy sailing job like i thought it was going to be. I tought at a Michaels where they were not the nicest. I hope you have a good experience. There are a few things I didn;t like about it. You have to teach the "Wilton way" and its not always the easiest, pretiest or best. You also get paid based on how many people you have in your class, so you need to do demos (which the pay is not great), and its more time away form the family. I can see myself doing it again in a few years when my kids are not little. It was just hard to do it all and have little kids at home. Also, you have to take into consideration supplies and ingredients that you do not get paid for. Each course 1 you have to make a cake and icing, course 2 you have to make royal icing, course 3 you need cake dummies....Keep your mind opened and have fun. I did love teaching soem of my classes, it was hit or miss with my students.....
Good luck and have fun.
thanks... I always have icing on hand so that's not a big deal... my teacher just reused everything... doesn't have to be edible, just look okay... and cake dummies? my teacher never used a cake dummy... but thanks everyone! i definetely plan to make the best of it and enjoy it 
I'm pretty sure it's based on what you've learned already. When I took my classes, my teacher hadn't worked with fondant yet so she didn't offer Course 3 until about 7 months later once she took the course herself. I'm not sure exactly on things like this because I still didn't get a hold of this lady but I'll be willing to teach all of them since I've taken them all.
Congratulations! 
I also am a current Wilton instructor. I am new also (I've been doing this since Feb). I ONLY teach course 1. I didn't really like any of the others....so...I'm not going to teach them. Also, I don't want to spend more than one night a week away from my sons. They are older, but before I know it...my oldest will be out of the house (in two years). I want to torment him as much as I can right now! The other instructor at the store got me in there so that she could have one more weeknight off (she was working three nights a week), but now she wants me to teach course 2 so she only has to work one night a week. I keep telling her no.
As chefperl said it is hit or miss with your students. I just finished up a round of classes and I couldn't wait for it to be over. Everyone was just there for "social" time and didn't really care if they had learned everything; and there were always two that didn't want to leave until their cakes were completely done. I was tired of staying late every week.
As for pay (this is Michaels pay, but I think that all Wilton pay scales are the same) its $30 a class for 1-6 students, $40 for 7-9, $43 for 10, etc. Class preview demos are $50 for 3 hours and an extra demo is $25 for 2 hours.
You get a table cover right away, $50 in gift certs after teaching one class or having one demo, a name tag after your second class or demo and an apron after your third class or demo. I have been waiting for my name tag for two months (I had one class and one demo the first month I started) and am now waiting for the Wilton apron. I think that I'll contact my supervisor if I don't get anything by the end of the month.
It is a lot of fun, I do really love to decorate and teach, but I would love to just say move aside and let me decorate that for you (so I could get out of my class on time)! 
Class previews are just when you go into the store and do something that shows everyone what they would be learning in class; it might just be a Michaels thing. We (all Michaels) had one last weekend. I did a bunch of cupcakes and decorated them all different ways, using the skills that you would have when you take course 1 (it got kind of boring after awhile, so I grabbed the Cupcake Fun book). Extra demos are basically the same thing. The last one that I did I decorated a cake for the lady that cuts my hair (I went there after the demo).
Oh yeah, seems that there is "some rule" (at our Michaels) that the instructor always leaves the cake on the first night of course 1 (in the employee room). My kids NEVER get cake anymore!!
Wow my instructor didn't make a cake and has only made one small batch of icing just to show us what the different kinds of consistencies look like. And that was the first day.
I've never heard of a preview demo... how does that work? I don't think my teacher has ever done that.
Hobby Lobby's don't do class previews nor are you required to do the 2 hour monthly demo's like Michaels are.
Wilton's contract w/ Michael's and Hobby Lobby have a few differences. I'm w/ Hobby Lobby--no demo requirements (although I try to do one each month, before the next Course I starts) to draw attention to the classes. I believe Michael's has no minimum number of students, while at HL you have to have 4 students for the class to "make"--or you have to cancel until the next month.
I haven't been teaching long, but have really enjoyed it so far. There has been some initial expense in getting everything organized, the demos, and a couple of cake dummies for the display case at the front of the store. As you can imagine, you don't make a lot of money, but you gain in practice and the students often make it all worth the effort.
It just depends on what you want to get out of the experience. If you just want to get out a few nights a week, get extra practice, make a little pocket money, and enjoy teaching and talking about cake decorating--You've found the job! (As w/ most teaching positions, you don't get rich, you do it more for the love of the job and the students.)
That sounds great. I think I would definetely do a preview demo at that store just to show off what they learn. Even though HL doesn't require it do they still pay you for it then? I remember about 2 years ago when we did sign up for classes (it was at the store where I'm going to be teaching a half hour away) they had to cancel two months in a row because there weren't enough people and then we got a HL in town and they offered them here and we had no problem... so I'm a little worried about that but since Michael's charges full price for their classes I don't see why anyone wouldn't take them at HL instead (sorry all you Michael's teachers!)
I think they used to pay for demos (before I started), but no longer do. It's not expensive to do, other than I usually give up a Saturday afternoon (when the manager said they are the busiest).
I bake and ice a cake at home, then sit and decorate, as I answer questions, then hand out small servings when I'm done decorating. It seems to help to give them a reason to stop and chat--to look at what you are doing or to get a piece of cake. I also keep my schedule (especially for Course I) handy to give out to those who are interested. (Put the class workbooks out on the table. Wilton sends posters w/ easels to use, etc.) HTH!
It is a quick and easy job. I worked for Michaels. It wasn't bad. My manager bent backwards for all the classes I wanted, because when I started it would make the most amount of money.
You don't have to go the "Crazy Wilton Way". No one tells you how to teach. They give you instructions and a video and pamplets. You can add all of your extras in there. I would even tell them what not to buy. If no one opened there kit on the first night I would tell them to not open and give them a better choice.
Here is one HUGE hint. NEVER BRING YOUR THING TO THE CLASSROOM.
I liked the chit-chat around the room. It always brought the class more together and the people would get to know each other and stay for all three classes.
Good Luck!
thanks! i just got off the phone with the lady and it sounds like a go... she's going to send me everything and then she wants me to send her some sample pictures of my cakes. i love the idea of a demo even if i don't get paid, i think that would definetely bring in a lot of people. i only wish it was in my home town so i could advertise a lot more. the lady i was talking to said that the last cake teacher didn't make much of an effort... she suggested i bring a cake for hobby lobby's employees on my first night of teaching. i just hope their teaching room is bigger than ours was... we had a closet with 10 people stuffed in it... her classes got bigger so they had to use the break room... she also wants me to teach the fondant/gumpaste class which i haven't taken but i'm sure i would get it by just looking at the book (that's pretty much how i learned everything else!) now i have to decide which pictures to send her
On the first night of Course I you demo icing and decorating a cake, I just usually leave it for the employees. (I also leave any leftovers from in-store demos for the employees.) It seems to help them to remember you, and be more than willing to help w/ moving tables or registrations. (See--cake does make everything better!) 
Lots of luck in your new job! Sounds like with your enthusiasm, you will do well! (Although I am fairly new, if I can help in anyway, let me know!)
(Just took a peek at your photos--looks like you have some really pretty ones to chose from!)
yeah! I always gave the employees cake. It always made them appreciate and work harder for you.
I don't know if you can put up your own poster, but I used a neon color. It got the most people to look at. I was the top instructor in the area. I'm sure I wasn't the best. I didn't really even do demos.
so I'm a little worried about that but since Michael's charges full price for their classes I don't see why anyone wouldn't take them at HL instead (sorry all you Michael's teachers!)
Michaels doesn't charge full prices for their classes. We do montly promotions for our classes as well. While Hobby Lobby may be cheaper, it depends on other factors, such as if the classes fit into people's schedule and convience in location for them.
Good luck with teaching. I'm sure you'll do great! If you need any help, let me know (but I do work for Michaels). I wish there was a hobby lobby in California! I would love to visit one!!
You have to start by filling out the application on the Wilton website (if they are wanting a Wilton instructor). There's no special certification, but the application asks what you can anc can't do, along w/ other questions. Wilton places you w/ the store, and you act as an independent contractor.
I would think w/ that much experience you would easily qualify. When they get ready to place you, they ask for pictures of your work.
HTH
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