Well, it's happened. I've been doing cakes for about 13 years and have had my share of last minute orders, but this tops them all. I received a message last night from a lady that wanted a "rather intricate" cake, and she was "under the gun on this one." Well, it was late enough by the time I got the message, that I decided to wait until today to return her call. So, she calls again this morning before I had the chance to call her and leaves another message (which tells me she definitely knows that this request is very last minute and may not happen). Anyway, I just called her back; guess what she would like...
the Taj Mahal.
(pause for dramatic effect 
)
By Friday.
To feed 110 people.
The Taj Mahal, people. 
I told my fiance, and he was like, "are you sure she wants the actual building and that she wasn't just saying she wants a cake as elegant as the Taj Mahal?" Ummmm, no. She wants the Taj Mahal.
So, I told her (after a long hesitation and a laugh--yeah I laughed at her, totally didn't mean to and have never done that before, but it just came out of nowhere) I would give her a quote this afternoon. I may not even take the job. This is my first free weekend in several months, and I was kind of looking forward to it, but I also hate to turn down a cake order. 
Anyway, I just wanted to blow off a little...it just boggles my mind every time something like this happens. Curious, though, what would you gals (and guys) do? I'll probably end up accepting the order--but this one will not be cheap!
Do a google image search and you'll see a couple different options. I saw one that looked like a square cake with the wonder pan shaped cake sitting on top--not too tricky. Good luck and be sure to post a pix.
Folks have no idea what these cakes take to do! I have a co-worker who said yesterday he may ask me to do an engagement party cake for this weekend...........well I go away camping on Friday nites and would have to deliver it to him on Friday morning, so I told him that either he tells me yes or no today, or I can't do it! yes, he did make the order..
The Taj Mahal wasn't built in a day...wait, that was Rome, and you have like 3 days. It doesn't look like it would be too terribly complicated. If it were me I'd freak out and say no but I'm still really new at this. Does she want a sculpted cake or could you do a sheet cake decorated to look like the Taj Mahal? Good luck, and be sure to post pics!
Just to get you started....
http://www.tiersofdelight.co.uk/images/tarj3.jpg
http://www.rajcakes.co.uk/taj%20mahal_files/image004.jpg
And, ooooo yeah, lotsa $$$$. 
http://image07.webshots.com/7/8/29/6/89582906RlPIMC_ph.jpg
http://www.thecakefairy.co.uk/pix/tajmahal65.jpg
People certainly can be amazing! The "busy" graduation cake I made this weekend was ordered Tuesday of last week and only because I told her that if she didn't order by that day she wasn't getting the cake! I had an anniversery/wedding cake and a birthday cake already going that weekend. She seemed offended when I told her "I need the order today or I can't make the cake". Good luck to you!
Debbie
That's a lot of work, a lot of cake and very last minute. I'd be tempted to quote $3 per serving for this one! 
The Taj Mahal wasn't built in a day...wait, that was Rome, and you have like 3 days.
ROTFLMBO!!!!!!!
I agree to give her a high price. If shes "under the gun" she will pay the price, if not you have a free weekend. I dont think you have anything to loose!
Keep us posted. Good Luck!
Monica
With an order like that, I definitely would charge the top, minimum of $800/$1000.
You should get paid in full by tomorrow with either CASH or cashier's check.
I don't know where that woman's head is at, but you don't place a rush order for a cake like that!!
GOOD LUCK if you take the order.
We'll all be waiting to see the pics!!
Thanks everybody! I just got back in, and I'll be giving her a call back soon. I've decided I'll take the order--if she's willing to pay what I'm willing to charge. lol 
I have to agree that in a situation like this, charging top dollar is the way to go. Rush orders on a large cake aren't easy--granted it's not a huge order, and the building itself is a simple shape, but all the detail of the building will take a lot of time.
Texa ~ Thanks for those awesome pics! I did a quick Google search to refresh my memory of what the building and grounds looked like, but I hadn't searched yet to see what other decorators have done--I knew someone, somewhere had been asked to do this before; it's a well known location.
Hello I thought this link might help you a little.... You can take an actual tour inside and out of the Taj mahal... taking a virtual tour might give you some really great insight and inspiration for the cake..
http://www.taj-mahal.net/blackLarge.htm
ohhhh...I hope you didn't charge less than $6 per serving!!!
I love it - the Taj Mahal, by Friday. While you're at it could you make me a to scale replica of the Parthenon by Saturday. People are just to fun. I am wondering what type of event could generate the need for such and elaborate cake at the last minute.
I love it - the Taj Mahal, by Friday. While you're at it could you make me a to scale replica of the Parthenon by Saturday. People are just to fun. I am wondering what type of event could generate the need for such and elaborate cake at the last minute.
Hilarious! I was wondering too, and she ended up telling me in a round about way...we were talking about detail, and she said it was for a teenager and that she (the daughter) wouldn't have any idea if I skimped on the details of the architecture...all that mattered to her was that it was identifiable as the Taj Mahal. (well, I didn't tell her this, but I just can't do that...this cake would have had my reputation with it, and if I'm going to do it, I'm gonna do it right). So, my understanding then is that it was just a birthday...quite a party, huh?
Well, I hate to disappoint, but she turned it down. I quoted her $5/serving. I would have loved to quote higher, but I knew anything higher would definitely not fly in my neck of the woods. She told me a decorator in Indy quoted her $325 total (for 110 servings of a sculpted cake!); my jaw dropped when she said that--I could see that here where I am (you have to remember that people around my area charge $1.50 per slice for buttercream wedding cakes), but Indy is waaaay bigger, and I would think the price would have been higher. I don't think she was just trying to talk me down on my price either; I think she was being honest. Anyway, the $5 was higher than I normally would have charged, but with it being so last minute, I wanted to be sure it was worth the added stress.
She told me that I came highly recommended from a very good friend of hers, and that she would love to see my cakes, but that this was just too far out of her budget. She was really nice about it, and I understand the budget thing, but I have to make money from this too. So, maybe our paths will cross again in the future for a less elaborate cake. In the mean time, I can go back to planning on doing nothing this weekend.
I almost forgot...
Helendelk ~ Thanks so much for that link. I spent half an hour browsing the virtual tour. I knew the Taj Mahal had a lot of detail, but I was astounded at just how much! It's absolutely beautiful, and the pics in the tour would have been much help if this order had happened (I hadn't been able to find any close-up pictures). 
Oh, well. Maybe you didn't get the order, but I'm sure many got some ideas. Wouldn't that be a great cake to do for a show or fair. Something one would do to show off your tatents,and not be in a time crunch. Hummmm, something to think about.
Anyway, I'm sure you would have done a wonderful job.
Hey, cakesoncall. I've only made two cakes EVER, but I feel very qualified to advise you Call her up, say you'll do it and make a slab cake, break off a few chunks here and there for authenticity. Print out a picture of the Taj Mahal , prop it against the cake and put flagging around whole thing and a sign that says "building under construction - hardhats required". Sometimes I wish I could do stuff like that, just for a laugh but there's that whole silly "reputation" thing to worry about. Dagnabbit!
Brainwave!!! I might just try to specialize in "demolition/construction"cakes - sounds a lot easier than learning to make them perfect. If anyone steals my idea, I'd appreciate a footnote as credit, please (and a 10% royalty fee).
Enjoy your free weekend, cakesoncall! This will be a funny story to tell around the campfire - the Taj Mahal!! Sheesh!
Cakesoncall.... I hope that you enjoy your free weekend!
Oh, well. Maybe you didn't get the order, but I'm sure many got some ideas. Wouldn't that be a great cake to do for a show or fair. Something one would do to show off your tatents,and not be in a time crunch. Hummmm, something to think about.
Anyway, I'm sure you would have done a wonderful job.
That's what I was thinking...after seeing the great pics and links that were posted here, it made me want to go ahead and make this cake just for the fun of it (and for my portfolio ). I may end up doing that.
Marmar ~ Too funny!
Thanks all!
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