I need help. I started taking my first decorating class in Jan. SInce then I was asked to become an instructor which I did agree to do. (surprised me to no end) SO I will start teaching my first class course 1 in May. What I need help with though is this...
I was asked today to do an in store demo this weekend and next weekend. It is wedding themed and the current instructior is making a dummy cake since I haven't taken course 3 yet (I finish course 2 tonight). SO I will have the dummy cake there as a display. WHat do I do for the 5 hours though? The event coordinator suggested doing a hands on bit where (she suggested) I use vanilla wafers and show some small techniques that I know. Otherwise I was thinking of torting, filling, icing and decorating a small 8 inch cake in some nice subtle colors, kinda wedding looking, mabie show some royal icing flowers ect. I need ideas and what should I talk about? What items should I demo? WHAT DO I DO??? LOL. Needless to say I am COMPLETELY freaked about doing this so soon, but I am also VERY excited. I just want to do a good job. Thanks for the help.

what about decorating some cookies and candies, you know party favors. Check out what the store you are working at carries and talor your demo to those products. Have you ever covered a cookie with fondant? Its very easy and very impressive. Also, do your 8in, keep it to all white, that always looks weddingish, but i'm think theme here. Cookies and/or candy to match the cake. Keep to simple for your designs. Swiss dots on the cake with some nice white roses will look great. Some fondant covered cookies with the same kind of design, just remember you will want to use royal for the decorations on the cookies/candies.

Also, don't forget your class schedule for the next month or so. Also, remember you are not teaching at this demo, you are demonstrating. You want to entice people to sign up for the up coming classes so that you can earn more money.

I can tell you from experience, 5 hours is a long time. I found that something people can see from start to finish in a few minutes is best. The cake will take some time, and most people won't be able to stand around and watch all of it. I think the store is asking a lot of you to expect you to do this all day long. Are they providing your supplies, if not, they should.

Cookies work really well. Also, your fondant rose is quite nice, how do you feel about making them?

I do a demo at the state fair each year, and roses are a huge hit. keep them small, just a few petals. If you do that, pre-dry your centers on sturdy wire and display the finished ones in a piece of styrofoam.

Even buttercream roses are popular. I put them on small cookies and hand them out to the children (as long as mom says OK)

Rolled fondant covered cookies is also popular, as is candy clay-using Wilton candy melts. This is good because you can use a bright color.

Things I learned:
change your demo regularly, to reduce fatique
Be prepared to be asked the wildest questions (don't laugh)
Be sure to have something to clean your hands-icing is sticky
You will need something to display your completed things, even just a box

Hope this helps.
JoAnn

Thank You. More questions. LOL.

I am supposed to demo the products at the first demo, and the classes at the second one.
What do you think of me decorating a cake from the yearbook, having the yearbook open to that page and up on an easle or something? That way I can demo each product as I use it and show ther yearbook off including in the back where it shows technique and products, plus I am showing how to do it as well as how it can look as a finished cake? DOes that sound good/doable?
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I would never have thought of bringing the roses already completed, or thought of bringing something for my hands. LOL.

Be very careful about what you give to customers to eat. Make sure you did not have any hand in the actual making of the product. In other words, buy cookies/cupcakes from the store and decorate with store-made icing. I like using Archway Sugar Cookies, Sunny Doodles, and Wilton's canned icing.

The yearbook idea is a good one but for the class demo, I would recommend making a cake from the class. This way passer-bys get to see something they will actually be creating. I do the clown cake from course 1. People are so impressed with the clowns. On it I write, "You can make me in Wilton Course 1."

FIVE HOURS! That is a REALLY long time! My demo's are usually three hours and let me tell you, that's moving REALLY slow. You don't want to get so into what your doing that you can't stop to talk to people. Usually, I bring a cake already frosted, like when you go to class, and decorate according to time of year. But you should have other things like flyers, interest sheets for them to sign if they want you to contact them later with class information and pull items from the shelf and display them on your table. You want to talk to people about your classes not show them how everything is done.

It's something that you learn as you do more of them. Try to stop decorating when no one is around. Trying saying hi and making eye contact with everyone as they pass (or hopefully stop) and just relax and try to enjoy! Good luck!

My understanding from Wilton is NEVER offer food. I do demos and use styro for that reason. Cut cookies from a 1/2 inch thick sheet of styrofoam and use fondant and royal to decorate. I use a pastry brush and brush lightly with water to stick the fondant. You want to just whet their intrest and not give away the techniques. If they know how to do it, they won't take the classes. Demos are to create interest in talking the classes. I show part of a technique and tell them, come to the class and I will teach you all of it. I make alot of roses. Just go fast so they can't see everything. Good luck and happy decorating.