In community album: 2009 Locations Cake Contest

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Wow. What can I say. Over 60 hours of labor in 3 days. Oh, yes, that's right ....do the math - no sleep and alllll work. A knock off of Buddy Valasco's cake featured on the The Cake Boss. The client's daughter is off to Italy and this was her farewell cake. Suffice it to say that if YOU get an order for this cake start your price at $800-$1000. It is UNBELIEVABLY labor intensive. I abandoned many plans I had for a far more detailed cake since the overabundance of time, labor and child neglect involved far outweighed the meager compensation. Sure, I'll humiliate myself and tell you - $120.00. Yep. No typo. Never again. Bottom is 8" two layers, "floors" 6" one layer one 1/2" foam core, top is 5" two layer. Columns are gumpaste. 100% edible. Pound cake w/ raspberry BC filling. $120.00 - WHAT WAS I SMOKIN'???? The up side is that she did tip me after I DELIVERED it: $10.00. As in "ten".

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Comments (84)

cherrycakes 9/8/09 at 7:18pm

Well, for what it's worth, you did an absolutely incredible job :D

poopascoopa 9/8/09 at 7:18pm

I would def pay 1000 bucks for that cake. Freakin awesome! :o

ebear 9/8/09 at 7:23pm

Ummm..when I clicked on this I thought it was from Cake Boss...Its INCREDIBLE. Your clients got a bargin!

G_Cakes 9/8/09 at 7:28pm

OMG this is amazing, WOW!!!! Your work is fantastic, but I have to ask you what were you thinking when it came to the pricing??? This cake alone I would have been asking 1500 and up because it is so labour intesive! God Love you for being so generous and again GREAT WORK!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

ncbert 9/8/09 at 7:34pm

Truly amazing :D :D :D you should be proud of you work...thanks for the detailed story

stickis85 9/8/09 at 7:36pm

oh my gosh amazing job - I also thought it was from cake boss :) $10.00 tip I think she was on something - well, we learn as we go - great job :)

CakeDiosa 9/8/09 at 7:39pm

G_Cakes, I wasn't thinking, honestly. In my mind it just didn't seem like it was going to be the work it was and I really wanted to do it so I priced it so she could afford it. This cake marks a BIG change in the way I do things. I'd rather price myself out of cake then put in the hours I did and ask my family to be neglected like that for what amounts to ME giving this cake away for FREE. Be kind folks, this WAS most CERTAINLY a lesson learned! From here on out they are going to pay to play. Period.

mjk350 9/8/09 at 8:10pm

WOW! So awesome!!! Your work is Fantastic!!! ;-D :o

FleurDeCake 9/8/09 at 8:20pm

8O WOW ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.. I WOULDNT HAVE HAD THE HEART TO PAY ONLY 120 FOR IT .. I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAD YOUR CHECK.. :D WELL AS YOU SAID A LESSON LEARNED AND THATS WHAT KEEPS US GOING IN CAKERY AND IN LIFE ITS THE LEARNING .ONE THING FOR SURE YOU CAN SAY THAT YOU CERTAINLY LEARNED THAT YOUR TALENT HAS NO BOUNDARIES.. MY UTMOST RESPECT GOES OUT TO YOU.

madgeowens 9/8/09 at 8:23pm

WOW go to facebook on buddys page its under cake boss, and post this pic...this ia more than amazing...he had so much help with his and you did this yourself...you are a magician....this cake rocks seriously!!!! wow holy crap...wow :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Enilajar 9/8/09 at 8:26pm

Don't be embarassed- the client should be ashamed! This is one of those times I wish I were rich, rich, rich, I would pay you for the pleasure of even looking at it. BTW, I have been to Pisa, and this is AMAZINGLY accurate!

CakesbyDee733 9/8/09 at 8:49pm

OMG amazing cake. I also thought it was from cake boss. I am so sorry that you only made 2.00 per hour. You should have a class to teach others :D :D :D :D

SHADDI 9/8/09 at 8:50pm

So awesome!!! i was planning on making on of these some time this year but is more cause I have the Pisa as a main logo on my wed site. you did an awesome job. and i hope that when it comes time for me to do mine it will come out as great as yours....One thing how did you get it to tilt.. again awesome job....Shaddi in my fav.

cmeventcoordinator 9/8/09 at 8:57pm

$120, that's it? Hun, it is awesome and should vave been soo much more. For future, base your prices uff the nymber of people a cake feeds, and if it's with fondant, don't do anything less than $3/slice. You have the talent that will cover the price

dolcebaci 9/8/09 at 9:28pm

out of this world....stunning...but $120....you must have really LIKED this person

CakeDiosa 9/8/09 at 9:42pm

dolcebachi - it's not so much that I really liked her it's that I "really like" the cake and wanted to see if I could pull it off so I didn't want to price myself out of the opportunity. Hindsight is 20/20 and I left that line of thinking right there on her doorstep. Shaddi - I did the method Buddy did on The Cake Boss. Try to find that episode, it's really hard to try and explain. It involves wedges and two boards on the bottom.

G_Cakes 9/8/09 at 9:53pm

If I came across as harsh cakediosa I am so sorry...I think your brilliant for putting in that kind of time and attention to detail...your work and on top of that your time is worth so much more hun!!! Gotta love you for making it to begin with and for honoring you price and seeing it through..that is truly the sign of a cake PRO!!!!!

CakeDiosa 9/8/09 at 10:00pm

G_Cakes, you didn't come across as harsh to me (I'm very thick skinned) I was just more concerned with anyone else firing up the "you didn't charge enough so you're evil" great debate often found in the forums. Thank you for your clarification, however. You guys are THE BEST! See...this makes me feel so much better. Thank God for CC!