Any Pointers For Those Of Us New To Cake Competitions?
Decorating By Price Updated 21 Nov 2006 , 3:49am by Sugarflowers
I'm really excited that the Mid-Atlantic Cake Show 2007 will only be about 20 minutes from my home. I would like to enter a cake in the special occasion/novelty catagory. Any pointers for someone like me who is new to decorating and new to competition?
I've been looking into that competition too! I'm really excited, and I'd love any pointers too. I've been wondering how to decide what design to use and what the judges look at when they judge. (I've also been wondering if I'm crazy for even thinking of entering, but the DO have a beginner's category)
Earlene Moore has a great contest guide on her site.
http://www.earlenescakes.com/cakeshowhints.htm
Nicholas Lodge has an article in one of his Sugarcraft books.
Rachel
*When entering any cake decorating competition, neatness is usually the first thing noticed. The cake covering is extremely important to your scoring.
*The board MUST be of the proper size for the cake and also be neat, even if it's not covered with fondant.
*Never enter a cake on a board covered with aluminum foil.
*A properly sized and color ribbon attached to the board makes a difference as well.
*Any decorations must be extremely neat and clean. No finger or fingernail marks. If using royal or buttercream, again, neatness is paramount.
*Consistency of design, technique, and execution of the technique(s) will bring high marks.
*Large isn't necessarily the best. Make the size appropriate for the design and your own ability. The same goes with small. Everything must be proportionate and very clean.
*Some judges will give more points for the number of techniques used, some don't. More doesn't always mean better.
*Difficulty of techniques is a big point maker. However, if it's a technique that's difficult but not well executed, then that will count against you.
*If you make flowers, make them at least look thin by thinning the edges. Be sure your flowers do not look stiff and lifeless. For beginners, ALL wires must be taped with floral tape. 1/4 width of floral tape works well without adding bulk. 1/2 width is good for securing a bouquet together.
*Most judges with count down on things being stuck into the cake, especially wires.
*When entering the novelty category, again neatness counts. The difficulty of your design, how unusual it is, and how easily the judges can tell what you were trying to get across makes a difference. Cute is great, masculine is also great, if well done. Anything that would make a person say, "Eww!" will not do well at all. Holiday novelty usually does well.
*Essentially, so matter what your design or category, NEATNESS will either make or break the cake. A great idea that is not well done will be beat by a lesser idea that is neat and "clean".
One little hint, if your flowers don't come out botanically correct, put on your information sheet that they are "fantasy" flowers. This way they won't be judged as botanically correct and they will decide if the work is appropriate for the design.
Please remember, judging is very subjective. What one judge likes, another might not. Do not try to design your cake base on what you think the judges will like. Trust me, I've learned the hard way. Don't stress over your design. Have fun with it and you will make a better cake.
I hope this is not information overload and good luck.
Michele
Sugarflowers - Thanks for all the info. That's exactly what I was looking for.
mrsright41401 -Thanks for the link, I'll check it out!
Even if I decide not to compete, I will be there as a spectator. I know there's a beginner catagory, but I'm not sure my decorating is advanced enough yet. I still haven't gotten the hang of smooth icing! 
I'll keep practicing and see how it goes! Hope to see you all there!
Thanks again!
Even if I decide not to compete, I will be there as a spectator. I know there's a beginner category, but I'm not sure my decorating is advanced enough yet. I still haven't gotten the hang of smooth icing!
I'll keep practicing and see how it goes! Hope to see you all there!
Every decorator is their own worst critic. Please enter the shows. This not only helps with your skills, but it helps the shows to continue.
Competition forces you to go beyond what you think you can do. You will also be surprised at how good others think you are. Veterans of competitions love to see the beginners division because they have fabulous ideas. The skill may not be there yet, but we love to see who will be our greatest competition and to give us ideas for general cake decorating. The kids have terrific ideas as well.
This reminds me. If you have a child who enters, TAKE IN PROGRESS PICTURES. Some kids are quite talented and have been judged down because it was thought that the child did not do all of the work themselves.
Please don't sit out of a competition just because you don't think you're good enough. There's a beginners division for a reason. Even if you don't win, you will get pointers from the judges on where you can improve and sometimes you will get compliments for things that you have done well.
The other thing competitions do for you is to help you to start raising the price of your cakes. The more well known you become, the more in demand you will be. Very few decorators get paid what they deserve. Use the competitions to showcase your work. Although you can't advertise your cake(s) by putting out cards after the judging, your name will be shown. Many times people write down the name and look you up in the phone book.
As I stated in a previous post, judging is very subjective. If you don't score as well as you think you should have, don't take it personally. Many times I have taken cakes or other displays to different competitions and gotten completely different results. In one location I will get nothing, in another I'll get 1st place! 
If you don't win, getting upset will not change anything. The cakes will not be re-judged just because someone doesn't like what they did or did not receive. All competitors are usually welcome to talk to the judges. Be courteous and listen well. If you still disagree with them, you should politely tell them that you will have to agree to disagree. The judges have to take a lot of things into consideration and are seeing a LOT of displays. Even if a mistake is made, do you really want to take a ribbon away from someone else?
I'm sorry to sound preachy, but I've been entering for 11 years and have made a lot of mistakes and taken losses way too hard. I've finally grown up! 
Because I have friends who will be entering in Maryland and in McKinney, I will not be attending in Maryland. I will be judging in McKinney, TX a few weeks later and I don't want to see any one's work. I want to be a fair judge and my friends don't want me to pick apart their work before they take it to Texas!
Best of luck to all of you.
Michele
Sugarflowers, I greatly appreciate your guidance and advice. My decorating to this point is a hobby for me, although I would love to be able to work in a local bakery some day. This will give me something to think about and look forward to over the winter months. I'll be keeping my eyes open for a unique idea! Thanks again!
Price, I looked at your photos and I have to say that you would do quite well at a competition. Many would wonder if you really belong in the beginner division. By your work, I would say that you belong in the Adult Advanced Division.
Your figure modeling is excellent and always does well with judges. You have very good detail in all areas of your work. I only have a couple of suggestions. One is to make the boards a little thicker (1/2" especially for competition), and the other is to put a ribbon trim around any round cake board.
Other than that, you're well on your way! 
Best of luck to you.
Michele
Sugarflowers,
Thanks so much for all of the information you have posted. I know that I am very much a beginner, but you're right. It will give me a reason/chance to improve. I now have a goal to work toward over the next few months. Do you have any tips on picking a cake design? Should the focus be on decorating the surface of the cake, using modeled figures, picking a specific theme or color? What's the best way to go about making this decision? I know it is ultimately up to each individual, I just wondered if you had any suggestions.
Price,
Your cakes are great! If you are wondering if you should enter, then I need to wonder twice (...3x, 4x...) as much as you do!!!!
The best place to start is to make something you really enjoy making. Novelty is not my best area, but for many, that is a breeze. If you prefer tiered cakes, you can do holiday or wedding cakes. If you enjoy abstract styles or whimsical, go with that.
As for color, choose your favorite. You will be much happier working with what colors you enjoy. I do suggest staying away from white and ivory. Depending on the location, these colors will not look the same as they did at home. If you really want to do these colors, just use a different color for the ribbon on the board. A perfect match at home will be a glaring problem at the show (again, learned the hard way).
Figure modeling usually scores well. Just be sure it fits the display. An elegant wedding cake won't look quite as elegant with figure models (unless you can make them look quite elegant).
Your cake covering will be one of the first things the judges will want to see, so be sure that whatever medium you use, do it as best you can. If you have borders, be consistent and neat. This is the next thing the judges will check.
If you still have a hard time designing a cake, look through books, web sites, even gift catalogs, for ideas. Look at everything as a cake possibility. Greeting cards have wonderful designs that can be incorporated into wedding, shower, and women's cakes. A greeting card picture was one of my first pattern transfer class cakes for a boy's birthday. You can also talk to any friends discussing an idea, and more than likely during the conversation many ideas will pop into your head.
The mark of a good decorator is one who can hide mistakes and make it look like that was the intention of the design. No one can make a perfect cake. Every winning cake has had many flaws covered with an extra something.
I hope these ideas have helped and not overloaded you. I love competition and I give out so much info to help others bypass some of the obstacles I had (and am still having )
Best of luck to you and enter as many different shows as you can. There are other competitions that aren't cake where you can stretch your talents as well.
Michele
What great information! That's exactly why I'm addicted to CC.
Sugarflowers, it's members like you that make this forum a great learning tool. That's exactly why you have that "Nominate Me" button.
I took Wilton Courses 1 & 2, about 1 1/2 years ago. I never did get back for Course 3. (I should do that one of these days!) Most of the members here are so willing to share their knowledge and help one and other.
My true intrest and passion for decorating has taken a turn towards modeling. The funny thing is -- I wouldn't have even known there was such a thing if I hadn't found CC! Thanks to you and everyone else for your encouragement and sharing.
Jean
Thanks for posting all of these tips. I really would love to enter but I'm so new to this and I'm really unsure of my work. Im not expecting to win though ,so that might actually make it more fun! I think I might go for it. I will probably go as a spectator anyway!
This is a wonderful place to learn and develop new skills within our passion for cake decorating. A big thank you to sugarflowers for taking all the time to share such useful information with us! I hope all of you have your creative cake caps on and plan to attend and participate in the show. It would be great to meet some of you there. I am excited to just stretch myself to the limit, try new things, and get constructive criticism on one hand, and on the other, I can't wait to see wonderful, beautiful cakes in person and not just on the computer screen. It should be a really great time!
From the photos I've seen, everyone on this thread should enter the show. Everyone of you has some wonderful, creative ideas. It's always nice to see a beginner's view of decorating. Beginner's always think "outside of the box" (pun intended).
Good luck to all of you and congratulations for being willing to enter. The shows can't continue if people don't enter.
Michele
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%