long strory - short - ok, so I got a call today and a lady wants to fax me a picture of a cake that she needs done. A friend or something has designed a very involved and detailed cake that she wants done. The lady that called me needs to know if it is something I can do and how much will it be, etc. So I say send the fax and I'll check it out. I just got the fax. it was 5 - yes FIVE - pages of drawings and instructions! There are 4 tiers, each drawn out with different patterns on the top. There are swags and flowers around the sides, columns wrapped in gold edible pearls separate each tier. around each tier are paper boxes lined with black velvet and wrapped in gold foil with the lids wrapped so they are removeable, each box is topped with paper and ribbon faux "candles". Each column and each box are to be surrounded by icing leaves.

SOOOOOOOOO... how in the world do I decide if I can do this and more importantly how do I price it?? I usually price per serving starting at 2.50 for BC and 3.50 for fondant. And then I add to for the "extras". I have no idea how to even go about coming up with a price.

They are also asking for cakes in 4, 5.5, 7, and 8.5 inch rounds. Well, I did 4,6,8, and 10. That serves 66. Which is 165 at the 2.50 price and 231 at 3.50 price point. But I know that's not enough for all of the "extras" they want.

Any help you can offer would be MUCH appreciated!!!

$700 -- your fondant price point x3

I am having trouble visualizing this cake in my head with the paper boxes and faux candles and what not.. but I wouldn't do it unless you felt 100% comfortable that you could pull it off.. with a 5 page draw out of her cake her expectations are bound to be super high.

a 4,6,8,10 would be 68 servings not counting the top tier by the chart I use and my fondant cakes start at $4/serving for plain no frills cake. The fondant swags and flowers would add at LEAST $3/serving and the pearl work would be $205 per tier it was between. And never mind the whole paper box and faux candles thing.. I wouldn't touch it for under $800 and that's without seeing the schematics.. LOL.

thanks for the thoughts so far ya'll. I did think about posting a copy of the "schematics" lol, but then decided against it for reasons I won't go into here.

The next issue is that this cake is for Aug 6th! OY! I require 4 weeks for wedding cakes and this one is the size of a wedding cake. But these folks really don't understand I don't think. I have already told them that I thought it was something I *Could* do, but that I had several questions, so I am calling back in the am. They are anxious to get a go ahead or to move on until they can find someone to do it.

Now, mind you this cake is not something that I would design and do on my own...and I am not really clear on the details of how this whole idea came about. I gues to each his own, right? But I really think I will not do it for less than $700.

OH and they want it delivered to what looks to me to be a residence. Well, I don't deliver cakes separated by columns already assembled. Surely I'm not alone in this?! I transport them with each tier in its own box and then assemble on site. But I have also never delivered a cake this large to a person's home before either?!

I wish I had just not answered the phone today! LOL>

Well it sounds like they have been watching way to many cake challenges and Ace of Cakes shows.

But I am with the others, if you think you want to take it on, I would not do it for less then $700.

As previously stated, their expectations are going to be high so get all the details and call with questions if you decide to do it.

GOOD LUCK!!!!! and post pics, this one may be worth taking step-by-step pics of.

Make absolutely sure you tell them that you usually require full payment 4 weeks in advance and since you have less time than that that you need to be paid in full NOW. I also agree with the other person who said they probably have really high expectations. I mean five pages of detailed information about a cake? . . . I wouldn't do it. The schematic is but a shadow of the perfection that lives in their head. The cake will never live up to their expectation. I would be terrified.

I also would not go to anyone's house to deliver a cake alone.

Good Luck!

Bottom line for me--I would not even consider doing a cake design that wasn't mine. Was this thing designed by a cake designer? At least someone who understands cake structure?

With five pages of instructions, I would run like the wind away from this order.

Well, I priced it out at $800 with delivery and set up, etc. And I went through some of the details with her when I gave her the price. I told her that this was something I didn't normally do and that some of the elements on her design would have to be adjusted to fit actuall cake sizes and platters, etc. I also told her that I had to be paid in full asap in order to be able to do this cake for them by Aug 6th.

The person who is doing the calling then tells me that if it were her, she would want to know what kind of experience I have and see how long I had been in business, etc, because she doesn't know my reputation or if I can even do this as I say I can. So I gave her my website and told her how long I have been baking, etc. They are going to be getting back to me. I really wish I had not ever even thought about doing it at all!

As I say - Live and Learn, except I never seem to learn.

You still have an out if you really don't want to take it on.

If they call you back and you have changed your mind, I would tell them that someone else has called with a large order and that date is no longer available.

this person sounds like a NUT! I know I woudn't be comfortable assembling a cake at someone's house with them watching my every move and breathing down my neck, it would make me totally nervous!

I am so different in that I don't mind an audience while I work. (Maybe it's my mindset of being in training for when they offer me my own show on the food network! ). I don't mind chit-chatting with them .... and I don't mind telling them to move, they're in my way. I don't see any difference in setting up a cake in a home vs. a reception venue.

What I cant' stand is a lot of noise while I'm working. I was setting up a reception and the family arrived a little earlier than expected to finish putting out centerpieces and such. I was putting finished touches on the cake and these people were loud and frantic and disorganized and just making me nuts! Without looking up, without stopping piping the border on the cake, my glasses down on my nose as I tilted my head to see thru my bifocals, in my best Paula Dean accent, I yelled out, "People! Calm Down! It's just a wedding! They take place every weekend! So relax .... the cake lady needs quiet to finish her work!" And they laughed and quieted down. (I yelled out "thank you!" )

Every post you have made you say you wish you hadn't even answered the phone, or something along those lines...
You have made it very plain in your posts that you DO NOT want to handle this cake!

PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR GUT ON THIS ONE!

Tell the woman that you are sorry, but you do not feel you can do her interesting design justice in the time allotted... And gently hang up the phone.

"Her lack of planning, does not constitute an emergency on your part" as someone here puts very well

I have to say this again. I have years of experience. I've won awards for my cakes. I wouldn't do this cake.

But if you do, please post pictures. All my best wishes going your way.

i ditto RUN!!
she called you to do the cake in the first place. Why after you gave them a price then did they scrutinize your ability and experience? 5 pages sounds awefully detailed. PP was right, the schematic doesnt come close to the image in their head. how many times have you worked from a sketch and it changed as the cake was decorated because the icing fell, or the color wasnt right, or it did not look right, or or or... it will never meet their expectations, it will probably take years off of your life due to stress, and the pp was also right, bad planning on customers part does not constitue your emergency.

but, if you do go ahead, please post pics and good luck.
IMHO

I agree with everyone here.

First of all, I love ace of cakes but not everyone has the tools to do at home what he does. Not to mension if they went to order from them the starting price for there cakes are $500. Im sure the cake they want would be more then that.

Second of all, Who ever made those plans should try to build the cake themselves in the amount of time they gave you.

Third of all, I would tell them you would need the money today so you can get started if you are going to do this. Sit down with them alter the plans to your likings so you are able to do it without the worry.
Hope this help. would love to see finished work. Keep us up to date.

Just a suggestion. Why don't you suggest they contact Charm City Cakes for a quote since this is the type of cake they produce. After they wake up from their faint and give you all call, you can decide if you even want to bother and if you do, give them a quote that you can live with.

good suggestion jeking!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

http://www.charmcitycakes.com/noflash/index.cfm?rd=cakes heres the website

Please, turn around and walk away from these people. If they send you 5 pages of design, they are obviously very picky and you are only setting yourself up for failure, in their eyes. They have a specific vision, which is probably not totally realistic. You may not be able to pull off their vision, and they sound to me like people who don't mind telling you how disappointed they are. The cake would be ca challenge, be fun, but if it were me, I would be cussing the entire time I made it

Probably not. I'm a cake designer. The one or two times I've done that, it has not gone well. I'm happy to use their ideas for inspiration, but they don't get to do the design. That's my job.

I didn't hear back from them on Friday. I will go in in the am and see if they called over the weekend.

Thanks for all of the advice. I will let keep everyone posted on the updates. And if I decide to go through with it, I'll post pics.

I was just reminded of this post by another one today, whatever happened with it littlebits?

good choice for them, but bad for me cause I was hoping to see how it would come out

I agree, the money is tempting but the whole ordeal sounds like a trainwreck. If they are that picky on the design, then every little detail that you didnt fallow they will scrutinize.
DEFINITLY RUN.