I got a call last night from the head chef of a local casino. His wife works with me and she's always taking stuff I bake home to him. Anyway, he wants to hire me to bake all his cheesecakes, brownies, chocolate cakes, carrot cakes and to be "on call" for wedding cakes for their banquet center. I was floored!
Obviously it's a huge compliment. But, he wants to know how much I'd require per hour. This would be part time (I work full time as a computer tech in an elementary school). I would do all the baking on site, maybe 2 evenings a week. I have NO clue what to say! I want it to be worth leaving my family and giving up my free time. I tend to always underestimate my $ value. I have 2 kids in college and could sure use the extra money!
Help, oh wise CC friends????

TAKE IT!! as for the $$ .. sorry cant help you . .but if someone is specifically requesting you and your talent, you should definately take it!!

If you want it.....TAKE IT!!! What an opportunity! I don't know where Collinsville IL is...but, what about $25.00/hr? I think it would be WELL worth that! Especially for a wedding cake!

Beth in KY

I was reading an article in the Washington Post that said pastry chefs earn an average of $85,000 a year and line cooks earn only $12-$15 an hour. I'm posting the link. I hope it works for you. Good luck wish I could have been more help!
Lara


Actually it's the head chef that averages $85,000, the national average for a pastry chef is even less at a little over $50,000. Seems a little low for all the time and effort doesn't it?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/18/AR2006041800376.html

Wow, how exciting... I would definitely set my hourly rate at at least $20, if he wants you for sure he will pay it.. maybe the 2 of you could work out a way to receive a lesser hourly rate and than a cake rate based on the intensity of the cake... like a wedding cake.. I mean if you are working for $25 an hour and making brownies, common cakes and the like, what happens when he has a bride that wants a HUGE wedding cake with tons of detail, you get the same pay? Just a thought you might want to consider... good luck with your decision and I wouldn't turn it down, I am sure DH will be supportive of you!

Maybe you could charge a lower fee for regular baking such as brownies and things. And then charge by the slice for the wedding cakes. He could always mark the price of that up if he wanted some overhead or you could one. Congratulations. What a dream job!

I know! I couldn't even sleep last night thinking about it. But, I'm not counting my money and planning recipes yet. There are still a lot of details to work out and who knows what could go wrong?
I was thinking $25 an hour. I agree that we need to plan something different for wedding cakes.
I am actually shivering!
I really appreciate all your comments...please keep them coming!

Anybody else have an opinoin?? Pretty please?

I don't know about the money end of it. I just wanted to say Congrats! What a great opportunity this could be and what an honor to be asked!

Good Luck and please let us know what happens.

for regular baking...10-15 dollars an hour is reasonable

I don't know if you live in a very cosmopolitan city..like NYC that would be double.

I think I like the idea of doing the wedding cake by the serving and letting him mark it up.

but then again if you know you're getting a set hourly..you know exactly how much you'll be making every week and can plan your budget accordingly

I live on the Illinois side of St. Louis. This Casino floats on the Mississippi River directly across from the Arch.

Sounds like a great idea - if you need the money. Otherwise, why run yourself ragged for not very much money.

I was working full time at one place, and was offered a second job. I told them if they couldn't match my overtime rate from the first job, the answer was no. If I wanted more money, I could have just put in overtime at the first job - and saved the hassle of traveling to the second job (as well as the gas), and having to stop at home to change from one type of "uniform" to another.

It wasn't worth it to me. Not to deter you... but think about what your time is worth to you. And then what time with your family is worth to you. And whether it gives you greater satisfaction to bake for your friends/family - or for strangers (who can never tell you how wonderful it was!)...

I just think it's a lot to think about.

God, I'm such a wet blanket!

Good luck, whatever you decide.

No, I really appreciate your comments! There is a LOT to think about here. I can't earn overtime because I'm salaried. I do have more days off than most, because I work for a school district.
My daughter is in Grad School, my older son is a sophomore in college. We always need money nowadays!
So much of this is going to depend on how much baking he'll need me to do every week. It wouldn't be a problem at all in the summer, because I'm off work for 2 1/2 months.
I want to hear all opinions! It'll help me write a list of questions and issues that I'll need to work out!

Jodie, you may have to resort to doing some freezing also...you can bake on one of your days in ...throw your cakes or products in the freezer and then the second day you come in you can decorate.

also, it will help you manage your time better if you "standarize" your offerings.

in other words..offer sheet cakes...1/4 and 1/2

offer a standard size muffin and cupcake

in round cakes the most popular size is an 9" ( yes I said 9..that's what most restaurants offer!)

flavors, yellow, chocolate and marble.

you can add the "flavors" with the filling. in other words if they want strawberry cake, you can torte a yellow cake and add strawberries..

you can start like this, untill you get your "sea legs" and then you can expand from there...

Just a suggestion

Will you be able to bake any "outside" orders such as for family and friends out of his kitchen? I'm not sure but if I remember it's really hard to have a legal home kitchen in IL and that would be great if youcould work that into your contract as a fringe benefit!!

$25 an hour i think is very reasonable especially since he wants you this badly. I would make sure you work something out for more elaborate cakes...maybe some sort of kickback from them. You get your $25 and hour but maybe a percentage of the cake that he changed will go back to you. I have ABSOLUTELY no experiance in this but this sounds reasonable to me.

i also like the idea of having standard things tha tyou do and freezing if you have to to save time.

JodiF- I work at at a hotel and I am the payroll manager so I know what everyone makes here. Our pasty chef makes over $ 36 an hour so asking for $25 I am sure well worth it. This does not include tips that he receives. Your cakes are great and what an opportunity for you. Wedding cakes I would definitely do something in a different range. Let us know what you decide. Congrats!
Faye

It sounds like a wonderful opportunity, I hope thinks work out for you. I only wish for something like this . I hope you will be able to iron out all the details and take on the challenge.

I say go for it. Try it out for six months to a year and see. It's not a lifetime commitment. And you said you could use the extra cash. If it doesn't work out - don't 'renew'.

What a dream come true! Congratulations on being recognized for your talent! I agree that $25 seems reasonable. Be sure to keep us posted on your decision!

I'm green with envy! This sounds like a wonerful opportunity for you. The pay in Omaha is much lower than $25 an hour, trust me. If someone was willing to pay me anything over $15 an hour to decorate, I'd be ditching my day job so fast, heads would be spinning!

I live in Central Illinois so I do know the area you live in...think of all the $$ that's being spent in that area, with Six Flags, the Arch, hotels and Busch Stadium.....$25 seems very reasonable. I think I'd charge by the slice for the wedding cake or definitely ask for more per hour, depending on the size and details of the cake. I'm very happy for you....keep us posted on what you decide.