Becoming A Wilton Cake Instructor
Decorating By imartsy Updated 1 Jul 2006 , 3:03am by koolaidstains
Hey everyone! I finished the 3rd Wilton class about a month or two ago and I signed up to "become a Wilton teacher". I got a call about it yesterday and it's something I'd love to do - but I'm not sure I have enough experience. I love to decorate and I want to do more of it - which I would certainly get to do if I was teaching it - but I'm just not sure. The person I spoke with said that they send you a video and training materials and everything to help you teach the class.... I was just wondering if anyone else had done it or how long anyone has been decorating before they started teaching others.
Thanks!
I was decorating for almost a year before I took the classes, but it was, well... Let's just say it was good I took the classes! 
My instructor actually asked if I was interested in teaching (I guess I did OK in class 
). About 5-6 months after taking all three courses I got the call about an opening. I have to admit, that I had not decorated many cakes after my courses ended, so I was in a panic and I acutally could not do a rose anymore to save my life! But, because teaching was something I really wanted to do, I planted my butt down in front of the rose video on wilton.com and practiced my butt off. Once I got the training videos, I studied them and practiced hard. I lucked out, though, because there was an NTP meeting a month after I started (3-day instructor training), so I was able to practice even more and have the trainers help me with the techniques I was not so comfortable with. If this is something that you really want to do and you want to be really good at it, then you should invest the time to really practice all the techniques that Wilton teaches (the Wilton way of course). If you practice, then that will build your confidence and your inexperience should not be too much of a concern--as long as you don't make a big deal about it. HTH and good luck with it!! 
I statred teaching a couple months after my course III and I was really worried I had just started decorating when I started my coures I. So I was not very experienced. The videos helped alot and then I did practice alot. after teaching a few months and practing at home I feel more confident. There are still thing I have a hard time with but I do the best i can in class and tell my students somethings take more practice even for me. I have a lot of fun teaching where else can you get paid to talk about something you really enjoy.
You can do it!!!!! The best way to learn is to teach ANYway! You have the basics and you have the ladies here....You can do it!! You go girl, give it a try, what is the worst that could happen? The videos tell you exactly what you need to say, prepare and do. The books are very instructional and you are never alone. Good luck, it is fun! Blessings, Shawn <><
It's funny that this thread was posted...I was jus ttalking to my old Wilton instructor, and she asked me if I wanted to become an instructor jsut YESTERDAY! I am still toying with the idea...not sure if I should or not. Still debating!
I took my Wilton courses about a year and a half ago. A few months ago my teacher called me and asked if Iwould be interested in becoming a teach with her. I was very nervous, but she told me she remembered me out of everyone and that I would do great, plus she was there to mentor me if I had any problems. I will be finishing teaching Course 3 next month, and truly love it.
All the videos and books they send you are great teaching instruments. Go for it. Just think of all the new people you will meet!
Let us know how it goes!!!!
I had gotten a telephone call about a year ago and was so excited... only to find out that the previous instructor decided to stay on and the store decided to keep her (after she was MIA for about a month!!) ... anyway, it all worked out in the end.. I will begin teaching classes on July 10th for the Wilton Course I in a much better store than the previous offer... the previous offered job, I would have had to pay taxes on and would not be working for the store themselves... the job I've taken this time, will withhold the taxes and I will be employed by them and even get an employee discount on any merchandise in the store... so it all worked out for the best...
I've been decorating now for about 6 years or so and I'm very nervous about it all ... I already have the videos, etc. however finding them may be a problem as I've moved and they're in a box somewhere in the spare bedroom along with all my other cake stuff ... so nervous, yeah, I'm big time nervous about teaching!! But I know I can do it.. it will be the Course 1 which isn't a bad course to start off with .. the Course II and III, someone give me a nerve pill!! I'm going to freak when I have to do those lol .. good luck imartsy .. you'll do great!!
I was a Wilton instructor for about 2 years and it was shortly after I finished my classes. I would like to get back to teaching classes and they are opening a new Michael's in this area. I love to decorate cakes myself, but I also like to bring out the creativity in others. I still have some of my old students call me and ask questions from 2 years ago!
Well, I have to say, after reading your posts, it DOES sound tempting to take my old instructor up on her offer for me to teach. I just don't think I am going to feel comfortable standing up and speaking in front of people. I'm not exactly what I would call SHY, but I am uncomfortable speaking to a classroom full of people when all eyes are on me! If it weren't for THAT, I think I'd do it in a heartbeat. I have no idea what it pays, but I guess any extra income would be nice...of course, I'd probably just spend it right back into the store!...lol.
That's exactly what I'm afraid I'm going to do too shortNsweet lol... I mean getting an employee discount, I'll be in heaven in Michael's lol
Well, I have to say, after reading your posts, it DOES sound tempting to take my old instructor up on her offer for me to teach. I just don't think I am going to feel comfortable standing up and speaking in front of people. I'm not exactly what I would call SHY, but I am uncomfortable speaking to a classroom full of people when all eyes are on me! If it weren't for THAT, I think I'd do it in a heartbeat. I have no idea what it pays, but I guess any extra income would be nice...of course, I'd probably just spend it right back into the store!...lol.
The being infront of people was my biggest concearn as well. I remember my first course 1 standing there with everyone looking at me. After about 15 minutes of nerviousness it eased. Now I don't even think about it and I have been teaching for 2 years. So it does get better over time.
To the orginal poster, I think you are the only one that can really decide if you are ready to teach or not. Do you feel you have the techinques down enough to show someone else how to do it? That doesn't mean you have to complete everything perfect, but you do need to be able to explain the steps to getting the finished product.
Why not call up your past instructor and ask her if she would be willing to meet with you and discuss it. She would be a great person to ask all the detailed questions too. I wouldn't rush into the teaching until you know everything behind it. The pros and the cons.
Different stores require you to do different things. At Michaels we are required to do a 3 hour class preview 5 times a year, on preselected days. When we do demos the cake(s) and icing we make comes out of our pocket. So while you get paid for it, you also spend money to do it.
The cake you bake the first night of course one, the icing you make for that cake, the royal icing you make in course two, the fondant you use in course three, all come out of your pocket. Advertising for classes comes out of your pocket.
Please do not get me wrong, I love teaching the classes and will continue to do so as long as I can. But I do want anyone interested to know there are things involved than just showing other people how to do something and making money. Before I agreed to fill out the form and take over the store where my instructor was at I spent time asking her questions, such as how many classes she usually had, how many students she usually and such. I also talked with another instructor at the same type of store in another state and was able to get all the pros and cons from her as well. I think being informed is the best way to decide on something. 
If anyone has any questions they want to ask about teaching the Wilton classes, feel free to PM me and I will try to help where I can.
What does the job pay? I wondered about this. Is it by student? I'd like to teach classes when my kids are a little older. 
Like you though, I have my insecurities about my technical skills! I guess a decorator would get pretty good though if they had to teach the class. What better motivation could there be for practice? lol
Hey there....I took course 1 just wanting to be able to provide friends and family with a more quality cake than what was available in my area....then....i liked that class so much, took 2...then figured i would go on to 3 just to have that knowlegde.....after all of that, i was asked if i was interested in teaching and asked to send in my work....so i did...they liked it...and so...( me being me..i was a bit apprensive....I was very quiet and shy and not comfortable in front of people at all.....but...decided i would give it a try...anyway....i would say....go for it...wilton must have saw you have great decorating skills, and everything else will come together for you....I did have the luxury though of having the 3 day NTP before i actually taught..and that truly helped.... Good luck on your endeavor.....Dawn
Dawn,
You DO make it sound appealing. My instructo DOES have all the confidence in the world in me. She always told me I was her star pupil. I have been making cakes for friends & relatives for free, and little by little, word of mouth is getting out, and I have orders to sell cakes now! Between the two, I am really excited to know that others think my cakes are beautiful and taste good! Now that my 3 kids are in their teens, this is a great time tostart concentrating on me and the things I like to do!
Thanks for your encouragement!
As for pay, I was told I would make $120 per class (the whole 4 sessions, not each session) no matter how many people were in it. Although they also told me some stores cancel classes if there are fewer than 6 people, or another set number that sign up. But if you have to pay for all your own supplies & do those demos & pay for your own supplies for that... I'm not sure what that ends up really making you $$ wise. I was also told you would be paid by the store, NOT Wilton. I think you have to keep track of all your tax stuff on your own as an Independent Contractor for Wilton. Although I'm not exactly sure how that works. This was the information I got so far....
The pay is going to depend on what store you are at. There are three corporations that have classes, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and JoAnns. There are also cake decorating supply stores that offer the classes as well.
At Michaels you are considered a Michaels employee, and your pay is taxed before you get it. At others (not sure which ones) you are considered an independent contractor, and I'm not sure if it is the store or Wilton that sends you the money, but from what I understand it is not taxed so you have to keep up with your information and pay taxes at the end of the year.
At Michaels we are allowed to teach classes of 1 or more students. Some stores require a min of 4 students to hold the classes.
I know at Michaels and Hobby Lobby we are paid by the number of students, though I think the pay differs slightly. I am not sure how JoAnns or Party/Cake stores handle it.
At Michaels you get $30 a night or $120 per course a month. At 7 (or. 
students you get paid more, and it keeps going up after that at differnet points. The base that you can make is $120 per course. How many courses you teach a month depends on a few things. Wilton wants you to to offer a course 1 every month as well as a course 2 or course 3.
If you teach at an account that has alot of other classes, the class room time may be limited and you may only be able to teach two courses a month. Because of your schedule... work, kids or such, you may be limited as to how many courses you can teach a month. It also depends on the interest in the classes. If no one signs up, then there is no class.
So one month you may teach three courses and the next you may only teach one. This will affect how much money you make every month.
One more thing that was touched on but only briefly is that you have to bring your own supplies. I know that when I was in class it horrified me that so many students would come unprepared and would ask the instructor to borrow this and borrow that. Borrowing a tip or non consumable item is not a big thing but they were asking for things like piping gel, powdered sugar (if their icing wasn't thick enough), disposable bags, icing color, etc, etc. I brought it up many times during the course of the class (out of earshot of the teacher) that we should come prepared with our own supplies and that when we borrow it is at the teacher's expense and that she is not reimbursed for these items. It really turned me off to teaching at Michael's. The other thing that got me steamed up was they would have her teach 3 classes (I, II, and III) back to back all day Sunday. So she would teach from 12-2PM, 2PM-4PM and then 4PM-6PM. The store manager came in one afternoon (looking for free cake samples!) and I complained that we were not getting our full 2 hour class because if the class before us ran late then we ended up short 10 to 15 minutes on our time. I also reminded the store manager that it was against labor laws to require someone to work for 6 hours straight (standing on her feet) without a break. Things have changed to include a 1/2 break between classes now for which the teacher was very grateful. She was a very kind person that just didn't want to complain. Just wanted to bring up one more thing for you to consider.
Wishing you the best in whatever you decide to do.
Opps forgot to add a few things...
I don't want people to think teaching is totally expeinsive and after you buy stuff for classes you don't have money left because you do.
Some other additional items to weight in are:
A 40% off discount on anything you order directly through Wilton.
Also Wilton gives you incentives, like teach so many classes in such and such months or teach 10% more a month this year over what you taught in the same month last year. For these things they give you GIft Certificates that can be used to Order Wilton products (with the discount). They also have another list of things you can use the gift certificates on. While some of them are just logo'd items there are other things that may be something you would like.
They also do send out some free products every now and then, as well as giving away free products at the Summer meetings they have.
Samsgranny-
Just a mention about the back to back classes. At least at the Michael's I work for I choose the times I hold my classes. I hold back to back classes by choice because I live quite a ways from the store and only want to drive the distance once a week. So this may be a decision that the teacher made so she would only have to come in one day. Also, I think the best way to not have students borrowing materilas is to not have them with you. I don't bring powdered sugar, piping gel colors etc. on the days that I am not going to be usingthem for a demo. Students are supposed to suplly their own materials. Everything is sold at Michaels if they forget something.
Well, let me tell you my story (do I sound long winded?). I took courses 1 and 2 a little over a year ago. My instructor was awesome, very experienced and had lots of great little tips. I thought teaching would be fun and I was able to do all the Wilton stuff well. BUT, I was comparing myself to my instructor thinking since I didn't have any experience or anything I'd have to wait until I had more practice. I tried a few times to take course 3 with her, but there were never enough people and then I got busy and couldn't do it.
Fast forward to a couple months ago and a couple of friends wanted to take the course and I said I'd do it with them. One of the reasons I wanted to take it again was to see another instructor and be able to see if I was up to par. Well, let me just say that the instructor we had for course one was a disaster. She was nice, but could barely make a rose and taught half of the things wrong. She even taught us the "grocery store" shell. Needless to say I was thinking if she can be an instructor certainly I can. We took course 2 somewhere else with a better instructor, but I have to say my original instructor was still the best.
Since I ended up teaching my friends the way they were supposed to do things in course 1, they encouraged me to sign up. I didn't do it right away because the website said there weren't any openings. I figured I'd just wait until I did course 3. I did check that box on the form in class that sais I was interested though. SO...(LOL) in course 2 the instructor asks if any of us wanted to teach. I said yes, she told me to apply online and I get a call just a few days later and I'm happy to say that in august I start at a Michaels. I'm taking course 3 in July.
I am no longer worried about my lack of experience. I feel confident I can teach the things in the class. I may not have years of experience, but I feel my cakes are good and my skills are good and I'd love to share it all with everyone else! I am also shy, but I have no problems speaking to groups of people. I've been told my whole life I'd make a good teacher because I can explain things well. So, anyway, I'm thrilled (can you tell?). If it's something you love and are passionate about, go ahead and go for it. If you want to wait and get experience then go ahead and wait. What I've found out is that while there are some instructors that have been in place for a long time, many of them come and go so there may often be job openings. Let us know what you decide.
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