Hi Everyone,
Ok, so this bugging me and I thought surely I'm not alone in this. When I make a cake and work long and hard on it and mostly am pretty darn happy with how it turned out. I love to see the person's reaction to it.

Most the time it's great! Of course that makes me very happy and very proud. But honestly, kind of like.."huh,....you really DO like it? and *I* made it? WOW!" type thing.... I'm always shocked people like something that I made. Some people even go a bit overboard with nice comments and that really makes me think, no way, they like it THAT well! Wow! So I'm not knocking that. I love it!

Anyway, then there's those people who see the cake, says thanks and off they go. I'm like....WHAT?!?!?! Just thanks??? That's IT??? No..."great job, this looks awesome...holy cow....." or any real reaction at all. Those are the people who make me wonder. Am I just overreacting to their lack of reaction? Especially when it's a cake that I personally think I did a really great job on.

I realize most people probably aren't obsessed with all things cake like I am but I just want to grab them and say....IS THAT IT?? Just thanks?!?!? ARGH! Not that I'm trying to brag or pat myself on the back but sometimes, I do think I do pretty darn good. Like most of you, I critique my cakes to death and see every flaw but still.

Anyway, what do you all think when you get little or no reaction to one of your creations?
KimAZ

Well, I think alot of those non-reactive type are just that-they just don't get very excited about things like we crazy people do. My husband was a bit like that when we first met but he has relaxed alot since then (thank goodness!) Also, I think people are used to getting cakes from bakeries just a few times a year so it's not a very personal relationship with the person who makes it. It's more of just what you said "Thanks, have a good day" and that's it. But I think we cake makers really invest ourselves in what we do for others and just naturally expect others to do the same. Bask in the glow from those who give praise to you and save a little as leftovers for those who don't
dori

I know what you mean, but sometimes it's just that they are distracted with their event!

Most of my cakes get "I can't believe that's a cake" and "wow... yummy!"

I did a wedding cake (my first paid, for a stranger, wedding cake) last year, and I got NOTHING as far as a reaction from the bride or her Mom (Mom ordered the cake.) I figured, oh well... it wasn't ugly or anything... (this is my Pink Wedding Cake)

Anyhow, a few weeks ago I got an e-mail from Mom ... could I reproduce the top tier for their 1st anniversary? I did, and a week later got a lovely e-mail raving about it, and how they didn't get to taste this flavour at the wedding 'cause they were going to save it , but it got smooshed in the freezer, etc. and how really yummy and beautiful it was! (see the Pink Wedding Anniversary Cake in my album if you care)

They loved it so much that THIS weekend I'm reproducing it AGAIN (only larger and slightly different colours) for their new baby's baptism!

So, the moral of this rather convoluted story... no reaction is not a bad reaction!

Yep! My two tier baby cake, got that lack of reaction. I was proud and definately something I could not see them expecting. I got after the fact thank you everyone enjoyed your cake. BLAH!

KimAZ,

I know how you feel. I don't always see the reaction, but I fret over every cake I make...My BIL and I were talking and I told him how stressed I get when I deliver a cake..He chuckled and reminded me that this is supposed to be my stress RELIEVER, not stress INDUCER!!!! So, I'm trying to not take it so personally, but that is hard because I love doing this and I want my customers to be happy with my work.....

I think Dori is right about some people just not being very emotional about such things as cake..
They just don't know what they're missing!!!

cindy

I've had a couple times when the reactions were flatly put, thanks for the cake. That's it. Okay, I appreciate a thank you, but no excitement, no appreciation to it, nothing. Come on, to me that says they don't like it very much. When I made the really big cake earlier this year it was arranged ahead of time that I would do the cake if they bought the supplies...okay because she only wanted a "small" heart shaped cake. Guess what, she changed her mind and picked one that was decorated like I have never-ever made. Soooooo...I did it. I never received a thank you card, nothing from the bride. The bride's MIL came up to me at the wedding and said, "Pretty cake".
Well, I liked the cake, and I thought I did a great job on it for never doing one like this before. My friends all liked it, hubby liked it, but most of all I liked it. (did I already say that I liked it? LOL) Yeah, I would have done some different things on it, I am my own worst critic, then my mom is second!!! LOL-love my mom!

I think it has a lot to do with the fact, that this is our passion, and not everybodys. With a lot of cakes I think you can spend days, weeks thinking about the design, how you will execute your plan and by the time you have actually finished, you have invested a lot, of time and your heart. Most people do not realize what goes into a cake, that to you it is almost a piece of art, that some cakes you cannot bare to cut into!! I do not think it is any judgement towards your cakes, I think some people just arent into cakes, or creative things, nothing personal. I should try and take my own advice!!!!!!

KimAZ,
My DH is one of those people that doesn't react to my cakes. I usually just get "that is nice" or "you are getting better". That is just the way he is. He doesn't get excited over much. People just react differently. Your cakes are wonderful and you are as you said "pretty darn good".

Terri

I was just thinking some more about all this getting a reaction stuff and it made me think of my mom and laugh. She was definitely one of those people who wanted a reaction. She never bought me a birthday card unless she thought it was so sweet that it would make me cry!!!
That is one thing I love about this site-you start off one place and you just don't know where you'll end up sometimes!

Kim.....I feel your pain! I am a sign designer and photographer as well as a CAKE PERSON! I deal with people reactions in all aspects of my life. With sign designs and photography alike, I thrive on a little "excitement" over my creations!!!! I've learned that if I"M pleased with my product, then I have no reason to be concerned about their reaction or lack thereof. LOL

There's a chunk of society that is quite pompus and proud, and are NOT going to compliment you. Don't ask me why. I want to smack them! LOL I think they believe that the world owes them perfect, and so why react when you "get what you deserve".... It's those people that will rip you to shreds if and when your product is less than perfect. Once in awhile....I see someone come thru the door that I know I won't be able to please, no matter what I do. I have declined jobs for that reason. You don't always know until it's too late tho.

I think the lesson here to all of us is to pass the compliments out to those who serve US......

Do your best and DON'T WORRY ABOUT THOSE FEW!!!!

I find it's mostly men in general and older men in particular that are reserved in their reactions. Picking up the cake is just another errand to run. The younger males are just as amazed as the moms are when they see the cake. Go figure.

I too am a cake maker that likes to be told when i have done well but I dont always get it either. and i have to admit it does bother me sometimes when i have done all i can to a cake and i am pleased with it and then no one says anything about it. being the family that i have married into,(big and full of all types of people), i have learned that just because someone says something doesn't mean that is what they mean and just because someone doesn't say something doesn't mean that is what they mean. So as long as you have done your best, and by the way, after looking at your cakes I think i am in the presence of a cake goddess, and you are happy with your work then your client will probably be happy too even if you dont know about it.

Ditto on the "some people just don't react" comment. I'm one of those people that won't openly react to things too often. This is one of the big issues that my wife-to-be and I have been working on - don't assume that no reaction is bad. She feeds on positive, over the top reactions, and I just feel that they are a waste of time and energy. I tell you, it's not easy meeting in the middle on that one.

Also keep in mind that people are probably stressed/distracted about getting the party/wedding/event ready when the cake is delivered/picked up. Once they have time to breathe and take a look at the cake, that's when they will really appreciate it. Unfortunately, you probably wont still be around.

Just to add to everyones comments, I am the same way! I am really hard on myself when it comes to my cakes so I always want to get a good reaction or compliments on them. I guess when someone doesn't give a big reaction or give me a great compliment on a cake I feel like, am I really any good? Should I stop doing this because I'm not as good as I think I am? I tend to need validation on things that I do like that. I am my own worst critic. But I think everyone is right, some people just don't give compliments. My husband is the same way. I can't get a compliment out of that man to save my life! On anything, how I dress, if I look nice, etc. He usually gives me some compliments on my cakes but most of the time I have to get it out of him. What is with men?! LOL!
Anyway, don't take it to heart! You know your good, we all know your good, and as long as the people that love you think your good, thats all that matters!
Keep up the good work,
Heather

P.S. Phoov, I am a sign designer too! I know how you feel about some customers! We get them too! Must be this business..Hehe!

I mostly get very positive reactions even to cakes I personally wasn't completely pleased with! And thank you notes to boot!

Recently though I had some grandparents come pick up a cake their daughter had ordered, and they just looked the cake up and down and didn't say much other than "I thought we were picking up two cakes." (There was a sheet cake, then a 3D bulldozer on top, then a baby smash cake like a hardhat on top of the bulldozer.) They made me so nervous! I am sure they were thinking their daughter overpaid although it really was a big cake.

That same cake, they transported it on the seat without helping level it at all and it was leaning when it got to the home, and the smash cake fell off. Oh well! The lady said she really liked the cake and I offered free delivery next time (she lives 40 miles away so that is a good deal) and she says we'll talk about it later.

Kitagrl!!!!!!! HAVE YOU CHECKED THE PRICE OF GAS??????? lololol!!!

Kitagrl,
I won't let them leave the driveway until I am completely satisfied with how it is positioned in the vehicle. I never let them put it in the seat. I explain why and they follow my orders. I am sure they think I am overprotective but I haven't had one fall over yet. Knock on wood.
Terri

I know!! I'm teasing you. I'd have made the same offer. Happy customers are RETURN customers

Maybe some people don't recognize this as talent. I am not sure or they just can't be happy that someone else has a talent they don't.

I have made cakes for our church. This one lady was raving over this cake I made. It was cute. She said to this other lady, "you have to go see it!" That lady said, "I can see it from here." I was standing right there. I was so angry. I don't get it.

I think I get 2 reactions. 1.) They love it! Amazing!
2.) I guess you did good.

Some people are just snotty.

Oh yeah, I completely understand.

Take for instance this last cake I made, the Princess Cake! I delivered it and all I got was "It's pretty!" I didn't get any oogly googly smiles and jumping up and down (afterall, this was for her daughter's first birthday)!!!! No tears of happiness, just "It's pretty!" No more comments after that except "Can you take a check?"

I was like "WHA?" After all the excitement talking about me making the cake and all I certainly did not get the reaction I expected. Maybe I expected too much but this person didn't strike me as someone who gets excited about a lot of things.

I put a lot of work into that cake and all my cakes for that matter. Most of them take me three days from start to finish. I appreciate some excitement and some oooing and ahhing!


Amy

So far, thank goodness, all my customers have made those good feeling compliments that we crave .

I guarantee you that if they don't like your work, you'll hear about that! Usually my customers commented on my cakes but word of mouth is proof of your work. If you get a cake order from that party, etc., you got your reaction. Good Luck!
Vicky, MO

My problem so far is that I get rave reviews, supposely "everyone" at the party knows who I am...but then nobody else orders.

Guess they figure they'll just wait for the party mom to invite them back over for another party, that way they don't have to pay for it!

It takes time to build a business. Have patience and have some business cards printed with your business name, your logo, your name and phone number. Donate cakes to church functions and school functions. Send along a few business cards with the cake. Set up one of your fancy cakes or a small wedding cake at a booth you rent at a craft fair. Put business cards out, and on back of some cards, write a coupon of 10% off first order. It will come. I did all of these things and my business did increase. Good luck and "let not your heart be troubled." Good Luck!
Vicky, MO

I got great tips at a recent cake show. She said to call up hotels and wedding coordinators and what you do is you bake like four different flavors of cakes, then cut a nice slice and put them attractively packaged in a nice box. Then present them to the people in charge of the weddings/parties at hotels or other wedding places. She got lots of BIG business by doing that. Samples are everything! I haven't tried it yet but need to.

I also have a friend who did dessert cakes, she did the same thing only took them to managers/owners of small independently owned restaurants, and they bought dessert cakes from her weekly for their restaurant at like $25-$30 a pop for just a carrot cake or something because they can sell them for at least $4.00 a slice.

ktagirl...that is VERY good advice!!

If I know a team or someone is celebrating something, I sometimes just bring in a cake for them, without them asking or knowing, no charge. While I am not looking to build my business, I found this grabs peoples attention.

I need the oogly googly jumping up and down drooling happy reactions too.... I DO!!! But I guess, to cut to the chase, we're baking for the multitudes, and that means a cross-section of society and we're going to "serve" all types. Some of whom are rigid, business-like, straight-faced, boring, or just plain MEAN! LOLOL...OR ANY COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE! I always try to love on the especially mean ones....it will either rub off, or annoy the heck out of them.

Okay, since we're ranting here...

my "favourite" response was from the Mother of the Bride (Wedding Cupcakes) ...

"Well, they smell good..."

This was for 90 custom cupcakes & 40 petit fours (all baked from scratch the day before), about half of them with either fondant roses or calla lillies, the rest with various piped flowers!!!

Some people!