Ok, tell me am I crazy?! I have been researching for awhile ideas, information, recipes etc to start a business where I would specialize in 3D/theme cakes similar to what Charm City Cakes does.
I have loads of info and started hanging out with a local home cake baker who does business out of here home nearby. She has been very helpful in getting me started.
My idea was to find local events and see if I could perhaps donate a cool looking theme cake for their event. I recently contacted an event who will be putting on a very big equestrian jumping event in September. There are about 10,000 people who attend this event over a 4 day period with big press and media covergae throughout this event. The sponsors and VIPs are big local corporate bigwigs and the crowd overall is a very upscale and affluent crowd.
My intent was essentially was only to get information and see if they might be interested in my donating a cool theme cake. Upon my initial call, I happened to speak with the owner of the event and when I described my intent, and clarified of the type of business I wish to launch, all it took was for me to mention the show Ace of Cakes explaining that I want to make cakes like that - well, that was all she need to hear. Suddenly, this woman became my own private agent. She exclaimed that is favorite show ever, and she absolutley wants me to be a part of this event. She said this event will absolutely be awesome for me to promote my business given the upscale nature of the attendees and sponsors involved. She has offered to me a free tent (whcih starts at $1000.00) to promote my business, where I could pass out brochures, have cake tastings, have dummy cakes etc., free advertising all full color in all their printed material, a featured spot for the theme cake in their VIP and rider tents, as well as a featured spot for their media day (television and print media)!!
In exchange, all she wants from me is to put on some sort of decorating contest for the kids on Family Day, where I need to make about 200 - 300 cookies or cupcakes. This will take place outside but probably under a large tent. However I want to do it will be fine with her. Then I would have to make my theme cake of course which I am thinking to make a horse and rider jumping over a big fence - probably a mixture of gumpaste, fondant, and rice crispies over a wire structure and mounted firmly to a base. The base will be the ground, grass and then I will have the lead sponsors name and event name as part of the fence structure. Yikes! She also suggests I provide maybe a few sheets cakes so I can feed some of the VIPs and riders each day. She said it can be whatever I want - theme or not, or even sheet cakes decorated nicely.
Wow! Sounds like a great opportunity huh? YIKES! Here is the kicker, the funniest damn thing about all of this is - I don't even own a dang mixer yet!! Nor do I have a business name/cards etc. - and never really made cakes before, let alone a 3D theme cake!! I have signed up for classes all summer, both some Wilton classes which are starting in 2 weeks and 3 great cake decorating classes at a local culinary institute which I am told are quite good, covering everything about baking, fondant, gumpaste etc.
The event owner knows I am completley new at this but has all the faith in me and really wants to help me all she can. Anyways, I am very excited but scared as hell! I need to buy all my supplies, practice and make some cool dummy cakes to start. I also want to make a small version of the theme cake to be sure it will work. I have lots of experience making models, carpentry, painting, airbrushing etc. just not with cakes.
Am I crazy or what!!?? What do guys think - any suggestions, psychological therapy, tips, advice would be greatly appreciated. If anyone wants to know how to grow their business, call some local big events and donate your work -you may have going on- you never know what can come of it!! Sheeeesshh!
lsienna
terrier Regular Member
Joined: Jul 04, 2007
Posts: 155
Posted:
Fri May 23, 2008 6:11 pm
I say.... that is a lot of work!
Wow you totally skipped the work your way up! LOL
I think you should have fun with this!!! So stop writing and get to work!
I look forward to hearing all about it... you are going to have one sore wrist after this!
Wishing you all the best!
I am also new at this, but I say GO FOR IT!!!! It's an amazing opportunity and you should not pass it up. Just practice, practice, practice. And you have your other skills to fall back on. I wish I knew how to do some of those things. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
jl5949 Regular Member
Joined: Feb 08, 2007
Posts: 197
Posted:
Fri May 23, 2008 6:16 pm
Hi, I don't want to be a negative factor, especially for such a great opportunity! but you could be in over your head a little. You would have a lot of work ahead of you. If you take this on... maybe talk to your friend and see if she would be willing to help you out with this event. Completing a 3D cake is a lot... especially if you've never decorated before... Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you'll be great at it but you might want to make sure you have all your eggs in the basket before you take this one on so soon. Just my opinion Either way Good Luck!
Melonie1005 Regular Member
Joined: Oct 13, 2006
Posts: 134
Location: Acworth, Ga
Birthday: Apr 26
Posted:
Fri May 23, 2008 6:17 pm
I say Go for it!! It's great someone is so willing to help you. Wish I knew more people like that.
adunfag Junior Member
Joined: Jun 26, 2007
Posts: 79
Posted:
Fri May 23, 2008 6:17 pm
I say you go for it. What's the worst that could happen? If you are successful, then it's all gravy. If not, at least you took on the challenge and you'll never have regrets about not doing it.
Not to rain on your parade, but please make sure you are licensed and legal when you do this. At events this large, you never know who you might run into. I say this because I had "dreams" until I found out that my state will not let me bake out of my home. I hope this turns out to be a great thing for you. Good Luck!!!!!!
Curtsmin24 Frequent Member
Joined: Feb 05, 2008
Posts: 289
Location: florida
Birthday: Oct 28
Posted:
Fri May 23, 2008 6:21 pm
OMG!!! That is a little nerve rattling. Just practice a lot and don't get too frustrated. It is a lot of work and you will enjoy it, but also a lot of pressure on someone new to cakes. I'm sure you will do fine and I wish you the best of luck!!! Definitley keep us posted.
manahigh Junior Member
Joined: Aug 28, 2007
Posts: 52
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posted:
Fri May 23, 2008 6:27 pm
I admire your determination to go after what you want. But I can't help but ask about the legal aspect of this. You will have alot of exposure with this event and thats great but what are the licensing requirements in your area? How will you handle all the orders that come in (hopefully). I mean it sounds like you will have a major expenditure in all the equipment you will need. A mixer and cake pans are only the beginning as my fellow CCers can tell you. I will be interested in hearing how this turns out. I really do wish you the best of luck as you are an inspiration to so many of us who dream of having our own business.
terrier Regular Member
Joined: Jul 04, 2007
Posts: 155
Posted:
Fri May 23, 2008 6:29 pm
Quote:
Not to rain on your parade, but please make sure you are licensed and legal when you do this.
You are so right....Really do make sure you cover all angles before doing this!
The last thing you need is 200 kids parents coming after you and you not being covered.
And make sure you have the all your ingredients listed if anyone ask for them and for the allergy folk.
Cheers!
angiescakes Junior Member
Joined: Sep 07, 2006
Posts: 70
Location: Illinois
Posted:
Fri May 23, 2008 6:29 pm
You've stressed this to be an event with many affluent people in attendance. Playing devil's advocate for a moment, if for any reason you may not live up to the expectations (quality, quantity, etc.) of the event owner, there is a possibility she could take legal recourse against you. If you are not legal, licensed, incorporated, etc., your personal assets could be at stake.
I agree that this is an incredible opportunity, but I would think long and hard about any potential fallout/negative consequences and make sure you have the event owner's expectations clearly defined in writing.
Best of luck to you!
costumeczar Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 18, 2007
Posts: 716
Posted:
Fri May 23, 2008 6:32 pm
Definitely get your licensing and other business legalities finished before you do this. Make sure that you have insurance, too. With that many people going through you want to be covered liability-wise.
On the side of the baking of it, I'd see if you can get your friend to help, and maybe offer her a chance to share in the advertising part of it (If she's legal also.) I've done events with a similar headcount to this, and it's a tremendous amount of work. Just think about the amount of icing that you'll have to make, let alone the cupcake baking part of it.
congrats on the opportunity but I agree with the others in a word of caution...I am still new and at first it always took longer than anticipated to do what I was trying to do. If you have never done a 3D cake before, you might want to try making one (maybe even similar to this one) so that you know more of what you are in for.
Holy crap this is an awesome opportunity....but I would just know what you are getting into. Decorating cakes is a TON of work, and I would suggest PRACTICING, and then practicing some more! Fondant and Gumpaste will not be your friends! Buy a KITCHENAID asap!!!!!! I have been doing this 10 years and think I would be intimidated by this, but what the heck you may never have another opportunity like this again! I would see if your friend may be able to help you, you will need help it is way too much work for one person to do all of that(sheet cake, cupcakes, etc.) I know I have had weekends that I do 4 cakes, and that is CRAZY!!! Plan your attack too! Get a name, I have a great place to get business cards cheap, and will do any logo or anything on them, and you will have them in a week or so, also have a friend that does websites...if you are interested email me at aka9406@aol.com and I will pass the info on to you! GOOD LUCK, you will need it. Be prepared too of what all could come out of this...which is GREAT. I know as soon as I got a website, I went from having a couple cakes a month to 4 a weekend now! All and all I think you should do it, and I wish you the best of luck I would love to have an opportunity like this and the worst thing that could happen is that you decide that it is too much, and not something you are "in" to. Let us know how everything turns out! AMY
indydebi Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 15085
Location: Indianapolis IN
Posted:
Fri May 23, 2008 6:37 pm
It is so exciting to find someone who is so willing to help you get started like this. Karma!!
Also not wanting to be a Negative Nancy here, but you've "...never really made cakes before, let alone a 3D theme cake" and you're going to make a horse and rider jumping a fence cake for a prestigeous event like this??
Everything else sounds so do-able, but be careful not to overpromise and underdeliver. Get legal, licensed and insured. I'd be real surprised if the organizer of the event doesn't require proof of insurance from all vendors anyway.
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Either way Good Luck!
OMG!!! That is a little nerve rattling. Just practice a lot and don't get too frustrated. It is a lot of work and you will enjoy it, but also a lot of pressure on someone new to cakes. I'm sure you will do fine and I wish you the best of luck!!! Definitley keep us posted. 
