I was just wondering if I should do it? I am moving to a new area and have the opportunity to teach Course 1... I know my work needs improving, so I am hoping that I can use this class as a launching off point. I was just wondering how those of you teach Wilton method, do you like it? Was it tough? Is it worth the pay or bennies? Do you only teach evening classes? Just wanted some information, suggestions, tips, and advice 
TIA
Well I just started, and I dont know if I want to do it anymore. I just feel like there is a lot of outside unpaid work. I am not sure it is the same everywhere though. The store i am at wants us to do all of these class previews (3 hours, unpaid!!) and create a bunch of store samples (using our own ,materials)Filling out paperwork etc. Most of the classes that I have agreed to do have been cancelled (mostly because of it being summer and enrollment slows, so I could expect it to pick up) So for me it is just not feeling like it is worth it. I know a lot of people love it, I just think I have too many other things going on with the kids. I am just not enjoying how much time I have spent on it for the money I have received. But I am sure you will find that there are people that just live for it, so I am just one opinion.
It's definately something you should do because you love to teach, not just because you want more practice decorating. It's not a huge money maker, but depending on where you teach, it can be profitable. I teach at a Michael's and have a set amount for each class, so if I teach 1-6 students, I get paid the same, if I get that elusive 7th student, I get more. The demos and displays I get paid for, again a set amount. Mandatory class previews are $50 for 2-4 hours. Displays are usually $25-50 depending on the size, etc. and my store will let me work on them on the clock as well. I usually decorate something at work and then take the pieces into the store to assemble my display on the clock. I am a storefront bakery owner, so this is just a supliment to my income. I do it mostly because I enjoy seeing someone do something they didn't think they could do! Course 1 is the most fun because people are truely raw and having fun! I guess I fall in the middle, I don't do it because I have to, but my whole world doesn't revolve around it either. I will say you can't just "phone it in" it takes work to fill classes and make it worth your while. Hope that help a little! -Lori
do all michaels pay you for demos and displays, or just your store? im possibly going to start teaching at a michaels, but i assumed from other posts that all that stuff came out of my time and money. hopefully if i start teaching, my store will pay for that stuff too!
It's supposed to be set up corporately. Wilton tells Michael's what they have to pay us for and how much. The other instructors like beading, etc, just get paid by the student and by the hour on demos, so it's a little different and I try to not advertise how much I get paid to any other instructors! Check with your Wilton support and they will tell you what you qualify for, there is also a lot of information on the WMI website! HTH -Lori
See I knew I was getting screwed! I just feel like where I am at there is so much unpaid time. Now if I were getting $50 for a class preview or getting paid to make a display that would be a whole different story. I mean who wants to spend 3 hours on a saturday, using their own materials not getting paid anything? I mean they tell us it is for US, so we can drum up more business for our classes and that is why we should want to do it for free. I think I want to be done!!
I also teach at Michael's and just love it. You get paid by the class as well as the Demo and each month I do an extra Demo for 2 hours and get paid for it. The store usually works with you and will allow you to write off a lot of what you need to make your demo a success. If you can teach at a Michael's or JoAnn's they are great, I tried one company and they paid for what I did but they were not too interested in the classes and if I did not have a minimun amount of students they cancelled the classes even though they were trying to get the classes going again. Do give the Michaels or JoAnn stores a try if you can, I think you will enjoy teaching there. Good luck!!!
evelyn
I teach at Michaels, and love it. I've been teaching now for close to 5 years. I get paid for the classes, the demos, and the displays. I make my own schedule, and it works out perfectly for me. It is an outlet for me. I could be having a real yucky day, and have class that night. When I come home I am a new women. Maybe it's the time away from home, or all the cake talk. Either way, I would change it for the world.
Like cakegrandma said, alot of the times you can "store use" products and that way you aren't spending nearly as much. Most times when I go to do a demo, I only bring what I am decorating and tips. The store will provide me with the frosting, colors, bags, cake boards, ect. I used to only use the dummys for demos, but then I learned if you keep the employee happy, they are more likely to talk about your classes to customers. So that helps out alot too.
You know there should be a WMI forum. I've look (all be it not very hard) and never found one. Not on the Wilton website, or here. Maybe we should start one. Just an idea.
So sounds like Michaels is the place to be if you want to be a WMI. I think seeing this I am going to have a frank talk with the coordinator at the store I am at. I am not expecting them to change the way they run things, but it just doesnt seem fair after seeing this thread.
Personally, aside from the crappy management team at the Michael's that I teach at (two of them, mind you, not just one store, I have two and both places the management is rude and nasy) the biggest problem that I have is that my Wilton representative is completely disinterested in me. You know, she doesn't ever contact me unless she needs something, she gives no incentive or direction, she's at least 6 months behind on rewards, etc. The only good thing is the 50% discount on Wilton products that you order through their catalog... until you HAVE it all! And the Michael's discount as well. But it actually costs me money to teach due to the price of gas. OK, wait, that's not fair... I really enjoy meeting new people and teaching them. That's a real benefit, but sometimes you get nasty people too, so be prepared for that. You're not going to like everyone you come in contact with of course. 
Good luck on this decision!
My supervisor is great, she always answers my questions in a timely manner and sends email about Michaels's and Wilton. Some on the Michaiel's managers are jerks but if you stay out of their way and just do your job then it seems to be not too much of a problem. I too enjoy seeing everyone learn how to do the different things with cakes and there are a lot of different personalities but after a while even the crabs come around. I had one lady that came in with her 2 grand daughters and she thought the class was only 1 - 2 hour class. She was nasty!!!! after she found out it was 4 classes and normally I have a difficult time biting my tongue when someone attacks me like that without kind of turnig my back to them. I was very nice to her and by the last class she was so nice she ended up taking other courses without the granddaughters. I guess you never can tell. Just keep your chin up, if you are not happy teaching where you are at, try a Michael's or JoAnn's and see how they are. It certainly will not hurt, especially if you feel as though you are not treated fairly where you are now. It is no fun to do something you love and not love doing it. Life is too short not to enjoy doing what you like where you like. People come to our classed to relax and learn something, it may not be their cup of tea but at least they enjoyed themselves while they were there, no pressure and it should be the same for you.
evelyn
Well I am at Joanns. ARe there any other Joann people out there that feel like I do?
okay so the more and more I think about this, the more I want to quit! I hate being a quitter, but to me they just havent made doing this very appealing, especially since I see now that most of you are getting paid for things that I do not. Do you guys think I should talk to the wilton supervisors or the coordinator at the store first?
I think you should talk to your Wilton supervisor first. I know at Michaels there are set fees that they have to pay. I'm not sure if it's different at Joanns. I wouldn't think so. Your supervisor should talk to the store manager. Is there another store that offers classes near you? Maybe you could switch.
I believe all the chains do differently than each other. I was at Garden Ridge and they had to have 4 people to have a class, no exceptions! If I had a Demo, they rarely had it set up for me and I remember one was supposed to be at the front of the store during the Christmas Holiday and they were concerned I would be in the way. I worked my hiney off trying to get classes going and they just would not give any support and finally frustrated, I quit. I had been teaching at Michael's and then just started teaching at a second one also. I feel that they do basically know that Wilton is a money maker for the company and try to treat your better and try to help you out with your demo's. If you need dummies there is a place in Oklahoma that I have a number for that does all kinds of styrofoam dummies for great prices and I use them all the time. So keep in mind that there are great place to work and great places to get things you need to do your work. Good luck!
evelyn
Like cakegrandma said, alot of the times you can "store use" products
You know there should be a WMI forum. I've look (all be it not very hard) and never found one. Not on the Wilton website, or here. Maybe we should start one. Just an idea.
There is a yahoo group exclusively for wmi's - I'll find out how to get you in...
Just thought I'd add that I teach at 2 Hobby Lobby's - sometimes I have enrollment issues with employees not signing up students properly (or at all...) but other than that, as far as the teaching goes - I love it!!
The particular store where I taught had issues related to employees (incl. management) that were not motivated to sign up students. I'd do the flyers, they wouldn't post them. Since I had to drive an hour, one way, to the store, the gas prices prohibited my continuing. I DID LOVE TEACHING!! My students were great! I hated to stop, but, the store required more than my one night a week in order to boost enrollment.
Consider all your options, look at your reimbursement vs. cost. Be OBJECTIVE!! Count all the extra hours you spend, etc. Then make an informed decision. That is what I did and when I presented the facts and figures to my supervisor, she understood completely and offered to call if there was an opening closer to home. Which I told her I would accept.
GOOD LUCK!! I'm sure you will make the right decision.
Beth in KY
I got a question...
Do you get some sort of course guideline to follow?
OH YES! Wilton does a GREAT job of getting all the instructional material and course guidelines that you need. On top of THAT, I got a P&P notebook from the store's corporate headquarters.
However, you are considered an independent instructor of Wilton and are paid by the individual stores (or corporations). So, if they have requirements and they are addressed in the contract you would be responsible for those duties. So, you MUST READ the contract.
My particular store did not have anything in particular listed and they didn't "require" that I do anything extra. But, in order for enrollment to go up...one would have to spend more time that I was willing to invest.
Beth in KY
I started out teaching at a small JoAnne's store and they were very excited to have me for about the first couple of classes. Then they stopped trying to get students enrolled, quit keeping the tiny classroom area clean and free of backstock and so after 3 months of cancelled classes because of no students, I called my Wilton coordinator and told her it wasn't worth my effort if the store wasn't willing to help. To my knowledge they haven't tryed to have classes in that store since and that was nearly 10 years ago. Since then I teach classes at my own store which I love! and at a Michael's about 30 minutes away, which I also love! Michael's is actually Wilton's largest retailer in the US, so they get a few extras like offering the new Gum paste and Fondant class a couple of months before anyone else could, etc. I get a lot of support materials from Wilton for both my accounts and haven't had any problems with management in my Michael's. However, like someone else mentioned, Wilton classes are the money maker at most stores. They have more advertising backing them and charge more since they are a 4 week class instead of just one day. There is probably not a tactfull way to point this out, but maybe you can talk to your event coordinator and get a little extra support! Good Luck! -Lori
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