I'm just curious because I'm having a little bit of an after pickup cake freakout 
A lady called and ordered a Darth Vader cake last minute. She usually gets it from another woman but she was unavailable. She was referred to me through a friend so I took the order. She said as long as it looked like Darth Vader she would be happy. I just don't think I will do this cake again. I hate all that black icing and its hard to get the details. Now I'm just sitting here with that horrible nervous feeling hoping she doesn't hate it.
So I guess my question is have you guys ever turned down a certain cake or is there a cake you just won't do? How do you explain it when someone asks?
This is happening to me right now, I'm waiting for this woman to pick up the cake this afternoon and i'm freaking!! It was so last minute and she was such a B*tch about the price and threatened me with a costco cake, now that I think about it, instead of "trying to accomodate her", I should have just let her go...I learned my lesson the hard way
I think you did a terrific job on this cake.....I love how you made him engulfed in flames. I'm sure she will love it!
I know what you mean....I hate doing vehicle cakes. We tried one, and it came out not so great (the rv). I can see all the wavy lines and inadequacies. However, I like the idea of a challenge, even if I don't like the theme.
I think what freaks me out is if someone asks me to do a technique I don't know (like pulled sugar, etc). I'd hate to turn someone down, but I don't have the know-how for something like that.
I have turned down cakes that don't interest me....
I have a full time day job and 2 kids. I make cakes on the side as a hobby, so I'm not relying on any sort of cake income (good thing too!) So... when someone calls me looking for a sheet cake, I simply explain to them that that's not what I do. I refer them to my web page, and invited them to call me back if they are interested. I have lost a couple of orders, but I wouldn't have enjoyed doing them anyhow!
I also don't do sheet cakes. I did 1 the Texas Tech cake and hated every single minute of it. Now I just tell people I don't do that and I would be happy to work something else out with them. Most people are just so used to getting sheet cakes that that is the first thing they think of when they need a cake. If they have their heart set on a sheet cake I just say sorry I can't do it. My cake income is just extra spending cash for me so I have the luxury of being able to do that.
Berta
I won't do fondant. Period. I personally abhor the taste and texture of it and feel that it ruins my delicious cake. So, just no.
I think so many people ask for sheet cakes because if you call a grocery store bakery or a Costco or such, they'll ENCOURAGE you to get a sheet cake--they get very flustered if you're looking for a nicer, more detailed cake. At least that's been my experience. I think it's just quicker and easier for them--because in those industries, time is money so they want to stay with the tried and true.
lotoftots hun, that's one of the reasons they don't make specialty cakes. another reason is that they aren't allowed to make any other kinds. The occasional filled sheet cake or wedding cake (get this the cakes come in sets, white only) but as for stacked, fondant, or anything like that. No Can Do.
I knew you guys would understand how I feel. I appreciate the compliments on the cake. I have to give Fishercakes credit for the flames...I got the idea from her. I just think if someone asks me for a cake that requires so much black I will have to turn them down. I don't think its worth it to worry this much about it.
Lotsoftots: I don't do fondant on my cakes either...I feel the same way about the taste and texture as you do.
I just got an order this weekend and she asked for it covered in fondant. She's never tasted it so I told her instead I would do a fondant bow on top.She was happy with it.
I feel better now that I know some of you feel the same. Thanks
People have to remember, (you as well), it's YOUR business. If anyone even tried to say Costco/Sams/Local Grocery store. I'd show them were my door is, and thank them for wasting my time.
I haven't bought from a store since they screwed up a simple spelling of a name THAT WAS WRITTEN CLEARLY FOR THEM. If they can't get something right that's written for them, and just say"oh well, nothing we can do now" then why bother with them?
Peopel want cheap, not good.
The lady had no problem with the price...I was just nervous because I didn't like working with all of that black icing. It was hard to get the details and I'm always worried about it affecting the taste.
I understand that some people don't have alot of money to spend on a cake. I just don't like when they threaten to go to a grocery store, etc. to get one cheaper. If someone comes to me and says I would like one of your cakes, but don't have alot of money to spend I would work with them. I think its all about their attitudes and how they approach the situation.
obviously there aer situations that like you said, you can work with, it's the idea of someone "threatening" (insert stores name here). They have to understand that you as the business person, are in control, or at least should be.
I personally don't like black frosting in color or taste, so I wouldn't most likely use it if I could help it. Some things you can just do without in life. Black frosting is one of them.
After doing my nephew's elmo cake this weekend, I think I"m done with anything that has an exuberant amount of hard to acheive colored icing. I was so frustrated with getting the black and red that I was about to go nuts. Other than that, I think I'm still naive enough to accept almost anything 
If I have to do a black cake, I cover in chocolate fondant... it just takes a little colour in my airbrush to make it black! In fact, that's the biggest reason I bought the airbrush in the first place - getting any strong colour is so much easier, and uses SO much less colour if you're only coating the outside of the icing!
Barefoot_Contessa: I can't wait to see your Elmo cake. Wouldn't it be nice if you never had to make red or black for a cake again? 
I am dying to do an Elmo cake though... 
MelC: That's a good idea with the chocolate fondant & airbrush. I just don't like working with fondant at all. Its not only the taste and texture, but people in my area would never pay enough for the cake to make it worth it. I'm not familiar with the airbrush for the cakes. Can you do the airbrushing right on buttercream? Where do you get an airbrush?
Okay ... fondant first ... I use Mill Lane fondant from www.creativecutters.com ... the chocolate tastes like an upscale Tootsie Roll ... YUMMY!!! The white is a bit sweet for my taste, but is not at all nasty like the Wilton's.
Second... airbrush. You'll find several threads on this topic with lots of different opinions, but I'll give you mine.
I bought the KopyKakes Airmaster and I LOVE it. It was specifically designed for cake decorating, so it has all of the right features (able to lower the air pressure, small gravity fed colour cup, double action for greater control, etc) It's not cheap, but you do get what you pay for. Many people have bought hobby airbrushes at Michael's or another craft store, but if you use it with any frequency, you'll just wish you bought the good one in the first place.
Yes, you can airbrush on buttercream, or just about anything, but you really need to use airbrush colours... other types of colours will just result in a clogged airbrush. There are 2 problems ... many other types of colours contain additives which are bad for the airbrush and will cause clogging and splotchy painting, and the pigments are generally not ground finely enough to pass through the airbrush cleanly.
Also, if you're going for a dark colour over a large area, I always tint my base icing to a lighter shade of the colour so I'm not trying to cover bright white ... i.e. I make my fondant a mid pink shade before airbrushing red) This makes thinner spots less visible and gives you better coverage (with substantially less colour used than tinting the icing to red!)
You can see in my gallery several cakes I've done this way ... red (over pink), black (over chocolate), navy blue (over blue) ... all airbrushed!
*edited because I cna't psell! 
About fondant flavor. If you make your own fondant the taste is delicious. It is slightly harder to work with, but well worth it.
MelC: First let me start off by saying that I absolutely adore your cakes...especially the Ruby Anniversary one. I see what you are saying about the airbrushing. It gives it a nice rich color. Thanks for the info on the airbrush - its just what I was looking for. I love that site you posted!! I'm going to have to make a list for Santa
Euphoriabakery: I love your fall cake with the chocolate fondant...it almost makes me want to try it, but if you've read some of my other posts I tend to be a bit lazy at times Maybe this will be the week I go for it 
I think I need to branch out a bit...but I don't like doing the character cakes that you just do a kazillion stars. I have in my head that anybody can do these...and I want to do cakes that require more creativity. Haven't done black............but the airbrush sure makes sense there!
Mmmm, I don't know, I don't think that there is one that I won't do ever... but, I did dislike doing Thomas the Tank from the character pan.. The details were so tedious... The first time I did it, I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Plus it was my first paid cake.!!!! 
I can't stand those kitty litter, toilet stool or the naughty cakes.
Stephanie: I didn't even think about those cakes when I started this post. I won't do the naughty cakes either...I work with my dad and I don't think that would be too comfortable. Plus I couldn't imagine some nice old lady walking by asking me what kind of cake I was making
I can just see those ladies with their eyes bulging out trying to decide what kind of cake it is
Well I've done the kitty litter, and a dead crow, and while they are not eveyone's cup of tea, I had a lot of fun with them (but then again, my sense of humour's always been a little twisted)
As for naughty cakes ... I think suggestive is okay, but crude is not. The bustier cake I made was for a valentine's party at my hubby's minister's house (and it was a BIG hit ... everyone there thought it was a hoot) However, it's not what I'd have made if there had been kids there. I would love to get my hands on Debbie Brown's Naughty Cakes book, because I'm sure they're a lot of fun.
My wife is an OB nurse. We went to a birthday party once for an OB doctor. They had a cake of a pregnant woman ready to give birth. Someone somehow got a small doll inside a baloon and it was inside the cake. The Dr. was given a knife and a set of tongs and told to deliver. It was hillarious.
.......as for as fondant, I hate the tast of Wiltons rolled fondant. I now use homade Marshmallow fondant. It is easy, inexpensive and tastes good.
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