Ok, here it is: MY class re-union is coming up and I tentatively said I would Love to talk to her (Committee chair) about making the cake) Its prob going to have to feed 900!! She asked me if I was going to do it for FREE!! I don't know how to reply to her - What Was I THinking??? HELP !!

Ummmm.....I'd ask her what the budget is for their cake. I think doing it for free is crazy-talk!!??

Lord NO! I could not imagine feeding that many for free! I agree with Antonia74..

I would tell her you would be happy to do it for little or no profit but that the expense of the ingredients alone could be a lot to feed that many people!!!

Why is it that everyone always wants cakes for free?!
I would ask how much they have set aside for the cake too. I would NOT do it for free.

I would tell her what a cake for 900 people would cost- just the cost of ing. and ask her if she expects anyone to make a donation that big to the reunion. Some people just don't think before they ask for something like that.

ok, just supplies alone will cost you a pretty penny. I would ask her to price cakes elsewhere and then sit down and discuss a "fair" price for you. I don't think that I enjoyed highschool enough to go into debt to make a cake for people I didn't even like!

Stephanie

What, for FREE. She must be crazy. 900 people for FREE, oh nooooo. There must be a budget.

I agree with smbegg's idea. I don't think no one liked high school that much.

I agree that Free is crazy!! lol About how do I tactfully say "FREE is CRAZY" ??? lol. Most of this has been done by email, should I suggest calling her?

Free?!@$#%# I want to know too.....what WERE you thinking?

Definitely not for free . . . but perhaps you could agree to do it at cost? And maybe write the rest off as a donation on your taxes? Even write up a donation slip, and have them sign it. Write up the value of the cake, and, and the credit you are giving them, and invoice it that way, and then you have a record of the donation you made.

I don't think it would be out of line to ask what the budget was for the cake, and then offer to give her something extra special for that price - perhaps more special than a bakery would do.

I'd ask her if they are getting the food and the venue for free. She must be some kind of nut. I'd get a couple of quotes from local bakeries and maybe offer a discount but I wouldn't do a cake for that many people for free.

Did she say 900? Because my 10-yr HS reunion had less than 100 people and the 20-yr had about 50 people. Maybe it's not nearly as many as you think. Even so, they should reimburse you for the ingredients at the VERY LEAST.

For that many people....doing it for free is just out of the question!!! I would do what Antonia suggested and ask what the budget is for the cake!!

I will ask her if there's a budget and how many peopls she's expecting. I just know that if every alumni attended the cake would have to feed that many. Calling locel bakeries id a great idea, I will def. do that. and asking for a budget amount.. You guys are so great, I knew you would have the best ideas

Remember that this is YOUR class reunion, too.
Making a cake that will feed 900 people is going to be very stressful, and a lot of hard work. Don't ruin it for your self!
I mean, while everyone else only going to be worried about what they are going to wear, you are going to be working yourself to death.
I don't want to be a party pooper, but you may just be too pooped to party. Just a thought, from someone that has been in somewhat of the same situation.( Although not for nearly that many people)!!!!

Holy Crap - No WAY! Not that many people for Free! That will NOT be cheap!

#1 Calculate how much you would/should normally charge for this cake
#2 Would you make that large of a $$ donation to your school? Do you enjoy high school that much
#3 You could calculate your cost and give her an invoice of the "real" price, discount it to only cover your cost and then donate your time
#4 You could offer to make a much smaller showpiece cake to fit her budget with plain sheet cakes to serve and possibly donate those

And I totally agree with subaru - you need to enjoy your reunion as well. Will this be a marketing opportunity for you - or a party for you to go to and enjoy yourself?

Can't wait to hear how it turns out!

Just how much cake would that actually be? I cannot even fathom it. Does anyone know???

My BASE price for really basic cakes is $2.50 per serving. So you are looking at a lowball price of $2,250.00!! And you sure wouldn't get anything fancy out of me - no fondant, it would probaly have to be 9 layered sheet cakes.

Sure - I'll do that for nothing!

Loves2bake, just remember that you can also pass on doing the job if it's not worth it to you!

FOR FREE!!! She got some b@lls!!!! 900 people! Hello!!!!!!!!! I don't even think the cost of ingredients is enough!!!!! Definately find out what the budget is. Is she wanting nothing but a few sheet cakes or something more elaborate?


Amy