I don't like the taste of fondant. I am new to making cakes and I always get cracks or blimishes with buttercream. How do I make it more smooth?

Melvira Method all the way! http://cakecentral.com/article83-Quick--Easy-Smooth-Icing-Using-a-Roller-Melvira-Method.html

I'd been making cakes for better than 20 years before I found this method .... how did I EVER manage without knowing this little secret! Every cake made ever since has been smoothed the Melvira way!!

You'll never go back.....I swear!!

I TOTALLY AGREE! I used the roller for a wedding cake recently and I will NEVER go back to traditional spatula and viva paper towels

It sounds like your icing recipe is too stiff.
Search for SugarShack's B'cream recipe.
It is almost fail-proof
Then get her DVD. Can't invest in anything better!

Get Sugarshack's dvd AMAZING!!!