cake decorating is a hobby (both myself and coworker have taken up cake decorating)...i've have made cakes and been paid for them in past..i stopped b/c of work/illness w/father/and time...lately it's when i feel like ...bring a cake to in-laws...

next week i have two cakes to bake... both @ no charge...nephew getting married....the nephew asked if i'd make groom's cake...his dad asked for a cake at the rehearsal dinner...no problem w/either of these cakes...

the kicker is ...today boss asked b/c both of us to make cakes...to feed about 300 people ..for tomorrow...for after a funeral service...the person whose husband died, is more his colleague...although we know her...

what do you do ...he's expecting these donated... not the lst request...another was for a convention... cake to feed large crowds...

your advice..please

I would tell him that I will donate the cakes for co-worker but the large cakes he should pay for and state a price. Those large cakes take time and money both!!
Leslie

Considering that it's for after a funeral service, I assume the decorations would be minimal, at best, right? So there won't be much time invested in that aspect of it, at least. And if you & your co-worker share the load, maybe it won't be too bad?? I'd ask the boss to pay for the cost of the ingredients/supplies, etc. and offer to donate my time, since it is, after all, for a funeral situation.

I have to say, though....never had cake at an after-funeral meal....??? That's a new one for me!! lol Hope you figure out a good compromise, without compromising yourself...

**edited to add: You might want to mention something about the late notice to him - and get the price from the local wal-mart or grocery/bakery to tell him, so he realizes that he's asking for a lot from you two, not just a little cake. 300 people = a ton of cake....even a grocery bakery would have trouble making up that much on such short notice.

You could also politely say decline. You have a lot going on and I think he'd understand especially since it is such short notice.

If it were me, I would probably ask that at least the ingredients be paid for. I wouldn't want any money coming out of my pocket, but I would donate my time in hopes that one of those 300 people would possibly want to order a cake from me in the future.

Just don't take on more than you can handle or want to handle.

Wow, I agree with Jennt, that a cake for 300 the DAY BEFORE is very short notice for most anyone, professional or not.

I would also ask that he pay for cost of ingredients. A cake here or there is no big deal but for 300? He's got to realize that you don't have a Cake Tree in your backyard producing cakes for you. That's money and time, even if it's not a lot of decorating.

Good luck!

While I understand that a cake for a funeral is always short notice, he couldn't possibly expect you to donate that much cake.

As I see it, you have a couple of ways you could deal with this.

1) You could let him know that you just can't do it with such short notice -- you have plans tonight that wouldn't allow you enough time to even begin working on such a project.

or

2) Let him know you just can't afford to donate this much cake. Often people don't understand how much it costs to make cake and icing!

I know from experience that if you start down the road of donating this much cake, it's expected from then on...

This got me to thinking....is cake at and after-funeral meal a common thing in other parts of the country/world? I'm from the South, & I know I've seen pies/dump-cakes/brownies/cookies, things like that, for dessert on the buffet tables at these sorts of meals, but not a layered/decorated cake. Not trying to take over the thread or anything, but figured this was the best place to ask...

A cake for a funeral? That's a new one to me. I guess I just think of cakes as a celebratory thing, not a bereavement thing (did I spell that right?).

Anway, if you can do it (timewise) and don't mind, then I'd do what the others suggested and just let him know that there will be a charge for the ingredients. Donating your time is one thing, but eating the entire cost of a cake for 300 people for a funeral which doesn't sound like you'll even be attending is a bit much to expect of anyone.

Honestly, if it were me, I'd probably turn it down. You can only do so much.

First, OMIGOSH and next WOW. What is he thinking?

Is he going to give you time off - paid - not using your own vacation time - to complete this task? I know that when we've had deaths in our organization we have been given time off to prepare the after funeral meal. The last time we did this a coworker and I were given the afternoon off before the funeral, plus the day of, to prepare for the meal. This gave us time to buy the stuff and get it set up at the reception site. We did not have to do any of this on our own time since it was pretty much work related.

In your case it is someone probably not close to you and I think you should be compensated for your work plus given the time off to complete the task. That is if you want to do it. Doesn't sound like you care to generate any leads or future cake buys from those 300 attendees so what would you gain from this. Yes I know sometimes we do stuff from the goodness of our hearts, but sounds to me like you already do that.

Bottom line, I'd say no. I'd advise him to go to a super store (Like Sam's or Costco) and buy several of their large cakes to feed the crowd.

Boss should pay for cost of ingredients and your time. If he really wants that cake he'll give you PAID time off from work to go home and bake. Otherwise, he's using you. (Is he getting the rest of the funereal reception free, or is it just your piece?)

I agree, send him to Sam's. That is alot of cake and ALOT! of icing! That's really not fair of him to ask that of you.

I've never seen a large cake (enough to feed 300) at this type of event. Usually, it's an assortment of pies and non-dessert foods.

I think your boss put you and your co-worker in an awkward situation. I would never do a cake that large--even with minimal decorations--for free. I would at least ask to be paid for the cost to make the cake. Where I work, if I'm asked to bring in a cake--usually no larger than 10-12 inch, I'm paid for the cost to make the cake. Otherwise, I'd go broke.

Is he CRAZY????

I think that you are starting something that is going to get out of hand.

Did you say that this was the second time of doing a large freebie for this man?

Just tell him politely that the answer is no, to short of time.

lol

I'd order it from Sam's club..give him the bill and donate my time in going to pick it up!

In my community, lots of people usually spontaneously bring food after a funeral--and often there are a lot of sweets.. Just wondering if you make all that cake and then people bring food and desserts, are the people in mourning going to end up having to deal with a lot of sweets they don't want or need? Don't know what the trdition is where you are, but unless you know there will be 300 cake-eating people and you are the only ones bringing cake and this is what people expect, I'd politely decline.

If this is the norm is your community, since this woman is not your close friend, I think it is appropriate for you to be paid for expenses and a bit more. Otherwise, in a situation like this, there is nothing worng with a store-bought cake. People are not coming for the food, they are coming to give support to the bereaved and having a bit of refreashment shouldn't be the focus of the day.

Just my $.02

thanks for all your replies...

custom here people bring food to home after the funeral...usually for the immediate family...in this case, seems other colleagues from around area will be attending...(well-known family)...they now have rented a hall for those attending after the services...

was going to make cakes w/fillings ....now thinking...sheet cakes...
w/fall leaves...autumn colors...
no, not expecting orders from any of the guest attending...just fill the cake order...for free...
from my standpoint...cake decorating for me is very non-profitable...lol...
take time to do my best...want my cakes looking and tasting good...

i'd like a comeback...for people who want freebies... this a.m. was caught off guard...as he'd already asked my coworker...was put on the spot

thanks again

That is totally ridiculous of him to think that you should even consider doing it for free!! I can understand you donating a pie or small cake but something to feed that many people???? Ain't a shot!!

You should be compensated for your time and effort. It's ridiculous for him to ask for cake to feed 300 and not at least offer the cost of the ingredients. Even making a cake for 20 is not cheap. Seems is if you are gonna go All out with it too filling and all. I would have politely declined after giving it some thought.

Yes there was a death in the company it happens all the time. But you should not be expected to foot the bill for this cake. Let the boss pay for it out of his money or use petty cash from work. You are being taken advantage of.

I agree with Cake_Princess...you are being taken advantage of. I have been asked to make a cake every month for students who had birthdays. After careful consideration of my time and costs, I asked them to provide me with materials. They very generously bought me 5 huge bags of powdered sugar, cake mixes, huge can of crisco and lots of butter! It's nice to be considerate ... but this sounds too extreme. 300 people!

You know the fastest, easiest, most polite way to let someone know your cakes/labor aren't free? When they ask you to do a cake, say.....

"No problem. I can create something great for you. What's your budget?"


Works like magic!

antonia74,

I like that reply...have to remember it.

I would turn it down because of the short notice. If there were more notice I would do it but ask for money for the ingredient only.

Then after the funeral & all is over you could talk to your boss about you making all the cakes for any occassions there at work from now on. Then talk to him about money. I wouldn't want this situation to pop up again & you feel obligated.

Good Luck w/ your decision~

I'm still stumped on a funeral for 300! If there are going to be that many people gathering, I would think the "family" would offer the lunch afterwards. I recently had a memorial service for both my mom and dad and my family paid for lunch for the guests that attended. (we forgot about the cake though!) People close to my parents made donations to several different organizations, cancer, Parkinson's. Seems all together strange to me for a colleague or friend of the deceased to order a cake to feed everyone.

kos

I'm still trying to get over the fact that he wants a cake for a funeral...?!(maybe I'm focused on the unimportant factor here - sorry!) I understand the refreshments for the gathering after, even desserts... But a CAKE? I've never heard of that, ever! I've never seen anything like that anywhere, even on television or movies.

Yeah, cake for 300 for free is WAY above and beyond reasonable expectations from anyone! If it were me, I'd suck it up, go to the boss and say "I'm sorry but I cannot afford to make this cake for free, I just can't. I've tried to figure out how, but it's just not within my budget. If you'd still like me (and the coworker) to make the cake, we will need to at least recoup the cost of the ingredients and our time will be donated." You'd still have to provide the cake board and delivery costs. Wow. I'm astounded!

I agree with everyone else - it's not right that the boss put you on the spot like that! Especially for 300 people! Holy Cow! Most funerals I've been to, not many people go to the afters, just family/close friends. And the family pays. Maybe that's just around here though.

rvallee - i'm with you - i always think of cake with celebrations - not funerals! I've never seen a cake at a funeral though!

Wow - maybe you can politely refuse?

I have always seen the sandwich trays sent to the funeral homes for the family of the lost one because the normally are there all day but not a gigantic cake? Maybe some cookies or brownies to have something to nibble on. But again that was normally for the family. I would definitly have to get paid to at least cover the ingrediants. exspecially since you have 2 other freebies ahead. It can get costly.

I would tell him you don't have the time to bake and frost two large cakes by tomorrow, but that you'd gladly donate your time and gas money to pick up a cake at Sam's club for him if he reimburses you. It sounds like he is taking advantage.

I would also mention to him that a white frosted cake is not AT ALL appropriate for a funeral. That just is weird. A bundt cake, or a dessert cake, ok...but a celebration cake??????

I guess it is too late, but next time you could always follow up by saying something to the effect of...

"Bob Boss, do you have a moment to discuss what type of cake you were envisoning for XXX. I need to know which flavors you'd prefer, the message you'd like to portray, AND YOUR BUGDET for your cake"

I, too, agree that your boss completely took advantage of you. He should have, at the very least, reimbursed you for your costs. Now you have a 'come back line' to use next time he tries to do this and you are caught off-guard. You can use this line to approach him and reintroduce the subject. HTH

happy to have a response ready for the next time...asking how much is in the budget for cake people know it's not free...

the cakes were made for this occassion...since we had comitted to making them...we did get a couple of phone calls, in appreciation...saying how good they were...just wanted to let you all know...

appreciate all the support and feedback...was thinking i was only one feeling the way i did...thanks again