Is it just me, or do you notice that some cake decorators tend to be a little grumpy? I must confess that I am a grumpy butt at times, but I'm not sure if it's the lack of sleep, PMS, or the lack of respect and understanding from customers and potential customers about what goes into a well planned, time cosuming, executed cake, and why we price them the way we do, OR is it the competitive nature of our industry, that makes me that way.
IDK it maybe all of the above. I'm usually good at hiding my grumpiness, but was just wondering if there are other grumpy and fiesty cakers like me

Yes. I am moody by nature though...not just with my business.

I can tell you for sure, though, that most of mine is because of burnout. That is nobody's fault but my own though. I'm implementing a price increase to weed out some of these orders. Hopefully that'll help.

The thing is I am fine with my ocassional grumpiness, teehee . But I wonder if it's just me or said circumstances, just curious to know if it's just me, or is this industry full of grumpy cakers, as I have encountered a few nasty cakers too

i wonder if it's just that grumpy people in general are good cake decorators lol

I think it's just a mixture of all that you stated before.

Also, I can say from personal experience, I think most people who work in some kind of a kitchen are there because it allows for as little interaction with the general public as can be helped. I get very irritated with the general public. I just don't have as much patience as other people do. I prefer to be working with my hands, making something beautiful, rather than dealing with complete strangers and answering phones all day. There is some interaction with the public in this line of work, but coming from working in customer service, I would take this over any service desk any day.

So perhaps what some view as grumpiness, that person might view as a successful attempt at not blowing their lid!!

I agree its probably partly the artistic, "anti social" personality many of us may have!!! I can be testy at times although I do try to be as polite and friendly as I can, when I do have to interact with people. I'm fairly non-confrontational, most of the time (unless I'm in just the right "mood"!) so I try to avoid making people mad...but yeah...

I was a teacher for five years and decided "I don't know why I got into this profession!" I like caking much better. Would love it even more if I had a secretary...haha....hate those days when you are caking and you have to listen to the phone every half hour and then go back later and answer all the voicemails...because usually by that time my kids are home from school and noisy...oh well!!!!

I think creative people in general tend to be moody. We're perfectionists and if things aren't "just so" it annoys us. We get annoyed when others don't appreciate the time and hard work, and the labor of love that goes into what we create. I think hearing the same gripey complaints and stupid comments ("I could do that cake in an hour, why does it take YOU six hours?") gets on the nerves after a while, too. Nature of the business.

I've noticed in alot of fields that can tend to be precise or competitive, tempers can flare.

I used to be in an akita dog group back when we had dogs....and those people could be nice but they could also get nasty REAL quick. Again, you're dealing with people who usually like dogs better than other humans haha so again a somewhat "hermit" personality, to a small extent.

I just had and AHA-moment - so it's not only me Other creative people are grumpy too! And when I think about it, all people I know with creative occupation has significant mood swings and "a temper"

I think we're finally realizing why some stupid threads on here can get so heated..............WE'RE ARTISTS!!! AND WE'RE GRUMPY!!! lol

I'm completely exhausted all the time too, which doesn't help.

Glad to read this--now I know I am not alone! The worst for me are people stopping by my kitchen when I am involved with a cake...STOP ASKING ME SO MANY QUESTIONS AND GET OUT OF MY KITCHEN!

I'm not sure why you guys are all so grumpy!!

I mean geez...*gives the finger to the guy that just cut him off*...we've got awesome jobs!

*yells at the lady that shut the elevator door when she saw him coming* With tons of respect!

Everybody always loves having our cake! *JERK Watch where you're driving I've got a cake in here!!*

I mean really?

P.S. Please note the sarcasm

Yep, I can be a huge grouch and I'm not a huge fan of people in general. That's why email is so great for customers. DOn't get me wrong, I can be super nice when the mood strikes me, I just find that people exhaust me. Not exactly sure why that is. Most creative types need that 'Sturm und Drang' I think.

I think that although our job can be fun, its also a lot of pressure, and it is a perfectionist type art with a non perfect medium -sugar.

When things go bad, EVERYONE in my life knows it.

It has to be something about artistic people then, that makes a whole lot of sense! My poor family though, when I'm in the zone everyone better run for cover Glad to know this is very common

Oh there are plenty of "grumpies" here, just read the forums!!!

I know, it's entertaining though LOL! Thats why I don't post much, because I have learnt not to get too deep into conversations with a lot of cakers like me For example the Scratch made vs doctored mixe cakes discussions, whenever I see one of those post I run to pop me some popcorn and get comfortable on my computer chair! ROFL! Those are always good.

Also because I am the typo queen, and can't spell and type to save my life!

[quote="Maria_Campos"]I have learnt not to get too deep into conversations with a lot of cakers like me For example the Scratch made vs doctored mixe cakes discussions,

On this subject and many others, I take the attitude of a former co-worker who always used to say "Whatever flips your skirt"
I have too many other things to do to let grumpiness interfere in my life! My personal attitude is "get a life" - I think that's why I don't like psychiatric nursing!

Hi,

I was sitting in a demo with about 50 people at a local cake store. You could pick out the serious cakers easily. We were the intense ones with serious perfectionists with questions. Everyone else in the room was so happy & carefree! It was an AHA moment. I think art involves a level of perfectionism and that personality type A mixed with cake = INTENSE!

Grumpy sometimes, but mostly intense becuase I care so much about putting out a great product. If you care about what you are doing then I think it causes some stress.

So, I am looking at it as a 'positive' becuase I cannot stand negative people. I used to own a flower shop & most of my peers were exactly as grumpy & burned out as a lot of cakers. Art on demand for low profit burns you out fast.

Hopefully, I am taking that lesson with me as I work my cake business. Do what you love, but price it well & demand customers who appreciate your work.

AHA!!!! So that is what is wrong with me. I thought all along it was just that I hated being around the public, now I find out that it is because I am an artist and a caker. Here all along I thought it was because I am a b**ch. Really, some days I just hate dealing with the clients, like the one that asked a question about a beach cake I did and when I explained how the shells and other decorations were made, she stated she did not like turquoise. Like DUH, they can be made into other colors if you like.
Thanks to everyone for straightening me out with what is wrong, I'm just grumpy and under stress.
evelyn

Wow I just thought it was just me aswell!! My family run and hide when I have a big cake order, I thought I was a grump because of my lack of space and the fact my kids are like little ferrals 20 hrs of the day!!!!! Now I can tell my husband I'm not a crazy grump, just a creative cake decorator!!!

I think it is from all the inhaled powdered sugar

LMAO.. .powdered sugar... lol

Some people are just grumpy by nature. However, I do believe that a person can choose their attitude and how they interact with people. Its really that simple.

I've always been a pretty creative person. I used to work in retail when I was in HS and college and I hated having to work with people. I was much happier reorganizing or working in the stock room away from people.

Now, I prefer to have as little contact with the public as possible, and I prefer using email over talking on the phone to anyone other than family and even that is pushing it sometimes. LOL.. My husband calls me a hermit.

I'm not surly when I go out, I always smile at people and I'm polite, but I'm just really shy. I doesn't take much to make me grumpy though.

Add going through menopause on top of all that has already been brought to light, and bingo...that is me LOL!