unique pricing situation- Please HELP! - Page 2

I haven't done larger than the six inch pan, only because I've never needed to, LOL!

If you put a good band around the side it's pretty sturdy, and I think that should make it strong enough to go larger, though.

You could also make foil pans by molding the foil over other things (2 inch size from the lid of an aerosol PAM can, for instance) and avoid buying ANY of the smaller pans!

Laura.

I wanted to chime in here too and my 2 cents in. Not sure what it's worth but here goes----

You say that you aren't interested in the advertising and that you only want the chance to make the cakes, and that you have freedom of choice....then why not bake for people that you know, work with, go to school with, family etc. Then your hard work can pay off and then you can get more interest in your cakes by people that you know.

I'm not trying to get down on you either, but this woman makes question her intentions. Doesn't sound right for me, and ask ANYONE on this board about having these feelings in the beginning about someone, instincts are always right!!! Sounds like she wants a whole bunch of somethin' for a whole bunch of nothin' and she found the person to give it to her. And also, what makes this woman so special to "advertise" for you. I understand and remember when Star Jones did it but geez, is this woman in a position to bring that much attention to you??? AND are you prepared for that?

DO NOT underestimate your time and effort in all of this!!!

You sound young and ambitious and that's awesome but no one here would want you to get taken advantage of. Sorry that this thread has had "extra" advice to you, but we all have these opinions b/c of things that have all happened to us.

Good luck!!!

I have heard that mini cakes take alot more time to actually do than the larger cakes. You will have more baking to do. You will be working on smaller details, icing smaller cakes, and such. You also have to have room in your kitchen to have all the cakes laying around and don't forget about transporting all of them where you want them to go.

I totally understand wanting to make more cakes. And wanting to build up your portfolio, but if it was me I really would not do this. I don't think in the end it will be worth it on your part.

Yes your supplies would be paid for, BUT not your time. And it is your time that you are going to be using, and lots of it! Read some posts on here about doing cakes for really cheap. Charging less than you are worth is a clear path to burnout before you even really get started.

If you aren't looking for the advertising, then you really are not getting anything out of the deal. I think you would be better off making cakes for family and friends, maybe people you go to school with, rather than some woman that is looking for cheap labor.

If you do decide to do it, then I'd give her a REAL price of the supplies you would need to do this. Don't cheat yourself here to get in her price range when she is already getting your time and talent for free.

Plus if you posted here to ask about it something about the situation is bothering you. Take a step back and really think about this before you agree to it.

Thanks for the tips Laura!

..I think I would have to say "No Thanks"

If "unique decorating experience" is all you are really looking for.....buy some cake dummies made from styrofoam and decorate them, take pix to add to your portfolio! Clean them off and re-decorate..you will have a beautiful portfolio in no time!!

I want to echo Texas Sugar on the time thing . . . I do multiple cakes for decorating parties, and the most I did was sixteen single layer 6" rounds--I baked and iced them, then the kiddos decorated them. It was a TON of work, and that is without the stacked construction, without the decorating. They take up tons of space and require lots more boards (and board covering) and boxes, which add considerable expense to your cost. Plus, transporting those things is a huge effort that can take even more time--sometimes multiple trips in your car, as well as multiple trips in and out of the building. I absolutely empathize with the challenge of trying to do it, but I have heard so many people do single serving wedding cakes and swear they under-charged, or else they swear never again . . . or they just plain swear! Good luck with what you decide, and I look forward to seeing photos of your work!

First I have to say that the person asking you to do this must be cheap or something...I just don't understand this sponsored wedding thing. Do these people really think that we (not just cake decorators but anyone offerering a service) are just sitting at the edge of our seats waiting for them to call upon us to give them things at cost??? I just don't get it.
Anyway enough with that rant...in my opinion I don't think you really need to do cakes just for free if you're looking for practice. I was just looking at your cakes and not only are they great they are extremely unique!!! I agree with the previous MrsMissey and make up some dummy cakes to perfect your techniques if that's what you are looking to improve.

Well, figure out the costs (go a little large, don't skimp) for the ten cakes including electric and so on for the baking & the gas to get them there. Add a wee bit more to round up. If she's still fine with your price, go ahead, and build up your portfolio and experience.

Give yourself LOTS of time to make these - they may be "small" but will each still take a LOT of work, TIMES TEN. It's not the cake itself that's time consuming, it's the decoration! Ten small cakes are likely to be much more time consuming than one big one.

Whatever cake you do first will sit for several days as you make the rest... unless they're all exactly the same (which defeats the purpose of getting ten different cakes under your belt).

I don't see much logic in this "sponsored" cake thing... If this was a cake show where prospective brides and wedding planners were looking, sure, but the aunt and uncle from Debuque aren't in the market (nor IN your market) to do you any good.

And the "for costs" thing is really bugging me since the primary costs is time. Throw that into your bid and she'll flat out refuse your offer.

So you're basically going for a bunch of stress and a very tight deadline for no pay and no real possible advertising... I would pass.

Wanna build your portfolio? Make those same wedding cakes (but in different colours) and drop them off at the local retirement home or homeless shelter. It'll cost you "ingredients" but you can spend as long as you want on each, no stress of pleasing someone who's paying you squat and you still get to build your portfolio and get experience, and the people who get the cake are more likely to appreciate it.

As for costs, it really depends on how fancy you're thinking of making the cakes, but you are possibly looking at about $15-$20 per cake. As I noted already, though, the real "cost"of the cake is in the labour (and skill) and I really don't see why someone should get free labour. It's a really cheap way of scamming yourself a wedding cake and the baker gets little value in return if the deal is "cake for advertising"; 99% of those attending are not going to be in the market for wedding cake.

Gads, what cretin came up with this cheesy "sponsored" idea?

Okay, did I read that right...Star Jones had one of these cheap tacky weddings?

Give me a break, of all the people who could afford to pay her bills and with a good tip. Just goes to show you that having money doesn't mean you have class.

Just my two cents..
I think getting involved with lady is like asking someone to hit you in the head with a hammer and take your wallet while they are at it. Who needs the aggrivation.

mommachris

Ok...here's another idea. DH is a salesperson for an advertising company...he suggested this. Tell the woman who is asking you to do this that you'll quote her your regular price per cake...and then whenever someone calls you to do a cake you'll send her a check for a predetermined about...say $5...if you're cakes are going to generate that much business from her wedding there is no way she would say no...
I just thought it would be funny to see what she says.
Also makes me wonder if she's gone to any large bakerys in the area to pose this or if she figures that the work hungry small guys would be more willing to give her a free cake....
Not sure why this topic is sitting with me...

Oh, yeah. She had this huge to do. I think she even had a Sylvia Weinstock cake. She had like 14 bridesmaids. She apparently had promised all of these vendors she would mention them on The View, etc before the wedding and after. Well ABC had other ideas and told her to knock it off. She ended up looking pretty ridiculous and petty.

Sylvia Weinstock does free cakes all the time to get her cakes out there, so that is no surprise!

I could understand Star Jones getting people to volunteer their stuff, she still will get a TON of press coverage, can easily have her staff/promoters pass on all the info on the people who helped, draw plenty of press to the event, get mention in wedding and/or "star" magazines and so on. In that light, it's not entirely implausible that one would get good publicity doing Star Jones' wedding.

Its' the same reason fashion designers let stars wear their gowns at the Academy Awards and other high-falutin' events: free exposure and there's plenty of reporters willing to point out that So And So wore a beautiful gown by Such and Such, with jewelry by Blah Blah and plenty of people will actually pay attention to that if for no other reason than a Star is wearing it. That gets the designers' names out there and into the heads of those who pay attention to this sort of stuff.

But not some local bride. Nuh-uh. She does NOT have the fashion press attending.

I must say, I really like the idea of a "cash back" response. If the bride seriously thinks her wedding is going to give you that much business, she should be just as willing to get $10 - bah, make it 10%! - referral fee from any orders received from her wedding. Watch her get all indignant at the idea. Har!!