The contest cake winners and winners-up always design outstanding, breathtaking cakes. They artfully display cake decorating designs and techniques we can all inspire to. So, naturally, all the contests are weighted toward advanced and/or professional entrants.
However, it seems like there are a lot of folks on this site who are new to cake decorating---or fairly new. How about having a special contest--say once a year-- where the membeship would enter under novice, intermediate, or advanced/professional. That way, all levels will experience the joy of placing, and could aspire to enter in the next level the following year. I think it will also push the advanced entrants to be the best of the best, and might even raise the level of friendly competition.
Since, it would be a special contest, I don't think even a token gift is necessary. I'm sure the joy of seeing their cake in the winner's circle would be reward enough.
I'm not computer savvy from a technical standpoint, so I don't know if this idea is even feasible. Just offering the suggestion as food for thought.
That sounds good. How would you determine what class you fall into though?
Sweetsuccess,
I looked at the ten photos you have uploaded on Cake Central. Just curious, what class would you say you fall into?
I think this is a great idea but agree with the mention of "how do you determine what class you are in though".
Some of you might not be aware of this but Anh, the winner of the Nature cake contest, JUST started decorating cakes this past Jan! So, that would make her a novice with advanced talents!
I think "professional" usually means you've been paid for what you do.
I would love to see more beginners or novice decorators enjoy being in the winners circle though! They work hard, if not harder, than those who are experienced veterans to cake decorating! I'm sure it's hard for a novice to enter a cake they're so proud of that they worked so hard on, only to see an amazing cake entered right behind theirs. It's hardly fair to them really.
I've always been for the "underdog" (I've been there!) Even though I'm in the more advanced stages of decorating and have worked hard on developing my talents for many years, I would have to agree that the novice decorators deserve a fair contest!
The only reason I have entered the contests here is because this is the first chance I've ever had to be "up against other cakes", just to see how my work would do compared to others. (I have to say I'm very pleased with the reviews I've received here and thank all of you who have voted for my cakes!)
Hopefully others who are just starting in this craft can have a fair opportunity to experience the joy of placing in a contest!!!!
elly
=o)
This suggestion has been made many times in various forms but it all comes down to it being a logistical nightmare.
#1 - special programming would be required, so for it to be worth the time for us, we would have to use it for all contests. The time the programming takes is not worth it for one contest per year.
#2 - we have no way to assure that people are entering in the correct class. I have no doubt this would lead to drama and controversy about people being placed in a lower experience class than their work would suggest.
At this time this concept would lead to more trouble than value and until Jackie and I can decide on a way to manage it efficiently we can't implement it.
Very understandable. Thanks for detailing that for us =o)
While I'm at it, thanks for ALL that you and Jackie do for the site!!! What would we all do without you??!!!!!!
WE LOVE YOU TWO!!!!!!!
elly
Thanks for the positive feeback 
And please don't take this as "it will never happen" it is a good idea, we just have to find an effective way to implement it.
I was going to enter the Valentine's Day contest but after looking at the cakes already entered, decided against it because I don't even stand a chance against some of the cakes. I would love to see skill level categories. I understand that it might be hard to determine what category everyone falls under but you can plainly see some of the cakes are way beyond beginner level. I still consider myself a beginner although my skills are improving but I just know I could not beat several of the cakes already entered. While just being voted for would be a total confidence booster for me, (I'm excited to see a few of my cakes are saved in a couple of people's favs, lol) I sort of want to enter with the hopes of actually having a chance to win or come in 2nd or 3rd or whatever. Seeing who's cakes are already people's favs and some are not favs at all is also a little discouraging to me. Maybe when I get as good as the pros, I will enter one of the contest. 
I'm still hoping someday there can be some sort of skill level category or something to make it more fair to the beginners.
I know it can be daunting to see some of the other cakes on here when you compare their work to your own. I myself felt a little like that when I posted my cakes recently. I could suddenly see all of my mistakes!! I decided though that I am still proud of what I accomplished with what I knew at the time. I may make mistakes but I learn from every one of them. I try to look at the great cakes on here and learn from them and I try not to let myself compare my skill level or my cakes to the others. It isn't easy though!
I agree that it would be nice to have contests for different skill levels but I also understand what Jackie and Heath are saying. I am my own worst critic and that being the case maybe I would see my work as less advanced than others would see it. That can lead to controversy.
There are sure a lot of wonderful cakes on here! Everyone keep up the good work! Don't be afraid to post your cakes just because you don't feel as advanced as others - remember there is always someone with less experience than you out there! We can all see the merit in the creative process it takes to take an idea from your head and translate into art on a cake!
Take care Everyone and happy cake decorating!
Perhaps it wouldn't be so much as to "who's been doing this the longest", but rather how difficult the techniques used are (for example- the use of shells would be in the "beginners" category and other techniques in "interm.", etc.). And you could do this contest w/o any new programming by making a, for example, Valentine's Day Cake Decorating Contest- Beginners from let's say Feb. 15-17, Intermediate from 17-19, etc.
It would be a fairer and less expensive way to do it. JMO. I hope it made sense. . . 
It makes sense to me. Something along those lines would be great. I'm sure there is a way/categories that would be fair. I wish I had specific suggestions but I don't. If I think of any, I'll suggest them later.
What I posted was strictly speaking on my own behalf. I feel discouraged to enter my cake. I'm not saying anyone else should feel discouraged. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed to post my cakes for people to see, I just don't feel my cakes are contest worthy. If I could enter in some sort of beginner or technique level, I would be more apt to do so. But that's just me and how I feel.
I don't know that that would work. Because thier are some beginners on here that do AWESOME fondant work and have never touched BC shells at all. So how would you determine that?? I am only in beginning stages as well and I don't think I measure up either. But we all are our own worst critic. So why not enter that contest anyway. At least you can say you tried and who knows you might actually win 
I do some techniques better than other techniques. So how would you choose on beginner level if someone just self teaching themselves chose to learn fondant before the shells?? Just my opinion. I hope I made sense.
Yep got have a few to see clearly Do you got your googles on?? No seriouly don't let anything stop you from entering. I do this for FUN winning would be a big perk. Then I would have myself some real FUN
I like the idea of the different entry levels but I can see Heath and Jackie's point of view. It would be alot of work and it could upset people. The only idea I have regarding this would be to have people ranked or graded after they have submitted say 5 cakes onto the site. Only after that are you then your able to enter a cake at that level. To get to the next level you have to win or place. But this also could cause a few heartaches as there is the risk of offending people and also lots and lots of work for our moderators. And they already do so much for all of us too. This may not even be possible considering there is something like 60000 members
Maybe we all need to consider how we would rank ourselves. I have been doing cake decorating for a number of years now but as I am self taught and only use fondant. I would say I'm an Intermediate but if BC was involved I'm definately a Novice, as I have trouble even making the BC to use.
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