I'll need ya'lls support soon.....

[laurafromtx]

I've been making cakes here and there to take to work for various occasions, not to drum up any business because that's not what I want to do, just making them because I enjoy doing it and it makes me happy to see people enjoy the fruits of my labor. (who doesn't enjoy free cake, eh?!?!?)

Re: the need for support - I had two coworkers approach me today to inquire about the possibility of making cakes. One event is for making tres leches cakes (note: multiple!) for a new job celebration/Cinco de Mayo celebration for our assistant director. The cakes would actually be simple enough to make, I have a good recipe for them, and they'd just be sheet cakes served out of the pans I bake them in. The question is, I don't know how MANY cakes just yet, I'm guessing there will be at least 100 people, which roughly equates to five 9x13 cakes if I SWAG 20 pieces of cake per pan. (SWAG = Scientific Wild A$$ Guess in computer terms ). Cinco de Mayo (the fifth of May) ends up being on a Monday, which would give me the weekend to bake the cakes, so actually I'm ok with that, just getting the pans together, baking and cleaning out the fridge to store them in until I deliver.

The 2nd event that I'll really need your support on is for a coworker's daughter's wedding. Double Yikes!! I know I can do wedding cakes, I'm not worried about the actual task, but I'm already dreading the phone call from the prospective bride. My coworker is a man of few words, he's really a good guy, but I suspect my name came up because..............and you know what I'm going to say................"Oh, I know a lady at work that makes wedding cakes and I'll bet..........." <fill in the blank>. I'm betting the words "cheap" and "cheaper than.." came up several times. All he said to me today was "You do wedding cakes, right?" When I hesitantly answered yes, he said "Expect a phone call soon". Triple Yikes!!!

I'm not licensed, I don't advertise at work for any business (because I like to make cakes when *I* want to and make the cakes *I* want to), and most of all for goodness sake, I have two furbabies living with me, that between the three of us shedding hair, I've got the Hoover crying "Uncle" every time I use it. I'd have to practically disassemble my refrigerator to store the cake in until delivery (can't leave cake out in case an errant dog/human hair wants to attach itself), and depending on the date being requested, I'd want/have to take a day or two vacation because I have a full time job and I won't kill myself after hours making a wedding cake for anyone other than immediate family (who, by the way, live 2000 miles away, so this pretty much never happens).

Part of me wants to go ahead and tell him (father)/her (bride) I'd really prefer not to do it (for the above reasons plus I'm sure it'll just be a headache), but part of me wants to wait and see what the bride is asking for. If it's a small wedding, say up to 75 people, and she's wanting a pretty simple cake with a simple design, then I'd probably be open to doing it, as long as I have at least a month's notice and she doesn't want a tasting. If she's wanting a topsy turvy/carved out the wazoo/elaborate design with or without fountains/4 different cake flavors and fillings/you catch my drift, for less than a reasonable charge per serving, then it really ain't gonna happen. Know what I mean?

The real support will be helping me have a backbone to only sign up for what I think I can do, IF I want to make the cake. I've already started my list of things I need to think about (what to charge, getting together a contract, delivery, etc.), but I'm really not good at the customer service side of this. It sounds like I've already talked myself out of doing it!

Long story short (OK, it's just a long story, no short about it! ), I'll need my fellow cakers to help see me through this one. So, thanks in advance and I'll be talking with you once I hear something.

Laura

[Amanda]

Woo hoo!! That is so exciting!!!! What a great compliment to you!

I'd wait and see what the bride is looking for. If you aren't comfortable with what she wants, then say no. But if it's something you can do, why not? It's a hobby you love doing and you'll be getting a little extra cash!

You know we will all be here cheering you on, and helping with anything we can.
Keep us posted!!

[cakebaker]

I like to make cakes when *I* want to and make the cakes *I* want to

I love someone who thinks like I do!!

The real risk in having this as a "real" business is that it can become a "job" and then it's just not fun anymore! I'm never letting that happen and neither should you!

So, just remember your own words when she calls. If you like what she says, go for it! If not, take a pass. There's nothing worse than taking on a job you don't want and end up stressing over it for weeks on end!

[likitiki]

Good luck with whatever you decide. I too have a hard time saying no to something. Make sure that if you do the wedding cake, that you price it adequately to make up for your cost and the time you will invest. Do not sell yourself short. We will be here for you!!!!!
Melissa