Ok People Magazine decided on the best cakes by state. I think they made some good choices, but a few of these made me ask "what the BLEEP?"

Here's an example. $750 for a ribbon-edged cupcake tree? You have got to be kidding:

http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20042118_20041107_39,00.html

Especially when the very next photo is a gorgeous fondant 3-tier for $450:

http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20042118_20041107_40,00.html

Anyway, what say you guys?

..... not sure, but perhaps it has to do with the flavors as well...

a bump anyway for ya!

Jen

That is crazy; there are so many beautiful cakes worth a lot more than those cup cakes.
I cant believe that someone would pay that much for cup cakes and they are not even that well decorated.

I agree they werent even that well decorated. I mean they were ok for charging $1.50 a serving, but for charging $4-5.00 a serving, forgettaboutit!

I saw a cake on there after I posted this for $12 a serving. It was SO not worth $12 a serving. Not even top designers, save a few in upper Manhattan, charge such a rate.

Oh last note, check out Hawaii's top cake. Unbelievable!

Yeah, I noticed that too. The pricing was all over the map!! There's places around here (Providence area) that start fondant at $7 per person. That seems pretty high to me!

Courtney

Oh btw, here's the link to Hawaii:

(seems like a STEAL for $960!):

http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20042118_20041107_11,00.html

I want someone to work with me on gumpaste hibiscus like this

Im in Rhode Island and if thats the going rate on cup cakes than the price just went UP for my cakes!! Jeese Louise!!

that hawwaiian cake is one of my favorites...it is so beautifully done.....how do you think they did the bamboo??? with fondant?? bc??? candy clay?? i just want to know!!!!!! beautiful!!!!!!!

Maybe they had a bunch of those trees...like a dozen of them or something...full of cupcakes???

Mickig

Pricing was so wild around the country and nobody has mentioned that some of those cakes are pretty ugly. Well at least I think so.

Wow, those are amazing, ok, I'll be the devil's advocate, maybe there were 5 of those trees? Right?? Then it would make sense right????

I sure hope there were 5 of those cupcake trees, otherwise, someone better get in touch with the new couple and provide some really needed financial advice or a cup of reality or life is going to be pretty expensive!

Good Luck.

I guess some people have more money than sense.

I need to charge more...lol---

Thanks for the link!
Love Hawaii's cake.
Check out the baker's website.
He has some very unique, beautiful cakes!

Did you see that Charm City Cakes and Cakes by Sam have cakes listed?
Were there any others there that fellow CCers know?

there is a fellow cc'er that made the list... you can find it if you do a search.

Expensive cupcakes, I'd eat one. I can't imagine any cupcake worth that much. (not to take anything away from the bake) I just think that's INSANE! There is some amazing talent in that magazine and congrats to every person who's featured, even the cupcake people.

Yeah I agree, I have had a chance to check out Cakelava (The Hawaiian cake decorator) and he seems to do a lot of cakes with the bamboo technique. It looks like that is his "niche" which is awesome.

I dunno, upon looking at the pictures, they look like they are made with a custom silicon mold and fondant or gumpaste. I say that because they all look too close in color and molding so they must be made of one mold *shrug* just a guess.

OMG, that cake for $4300 was way over-priced too. I mean there are some great cakes sold for $4300 but that wasnt worth it IMO. I think Ill email him and ask him about the bamboo and tell him inquiring minds want to know. Its not like we will be much competition to him if he isnt on the mainland...

South Dakota is a fellow CC'er! I adore that cake and that was the one I was planning on using for inspiration for my Birthday cake. (which will now be a house warming cake) !!

Kentucky cake is by our own leahs! Awesome work!
http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20042118_20041107_17,00.html


Frankly, I found Duff's entry for Maryland rather so-so. Even looked like bulges under the fondant.
http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20042118_20041107_20,00.html

Yikes, if you count those cupcakes and do the math, there's gotta be 60 of them on the stand, tops. That's $12.50 a cupcake??

Thanks for the cool link- these are a blast to look at and reading all of the interesting flavor combos definitely gets me thinking!!

I wonder how they selected these cakes?

I personally could not justify charging someone $750.00 for cupcakes. There's almost zero labor involved...the cupcakes weren't spectacularly decorated...and the ribbon just cheapened the look of the whole thing. But...the fact that people are willing to pay $750.00 for cupcakes makes me feel pretty darn relieved to be in this industry!! Just wish I could find some of those suckers...er...I mean customers!!

Maybe the couple had ordered more cupcakes but they weren't in the picture. Those cupcake stands only fit about 90 cupcakes.
And if you charged $1.50 for about 500 cupcakes, $750 is quite acurate.

Note that each cupcake has a lobster on it. It could very well be that they are hand molded from fondant or modeling chocolate, or at the very least, a custom mold. The flavors sound upscale, and like they are filled.
Anyone who could command $12.50 per cupcake not only doesn't get my scorn, but they get my admiration!
And if they are a CC'er, I hope they'll share how they it!

A couple of things to consider we don't know how many cupcakes there were, but from meeting brides who have had consultations with him I am sure they were not $1.50, Roy is not cheap he books as many wedding cakes as he wants, and has a great reputation. But I also would not do those cupcakes cheaply you have to make the lobsters, etc time is money they may only be cupcakes, but if he is making those cupcakes, it would be time he could not spend working on a more expensive cake.

I find it interesting that so many people feel comfortable basically bashing the work of other decorators in a magazine, but if it were known they were members of CC it wouldn't be tolerated. FYI, many of the decorators showcased in that "People" issue are smaller decorators - some home-based, even, from states that allow home bakers, and many COULD be members here. Something to think about...

I also can't understand why we, as a community of cake decorators - many of whom post frequently about our work being undervalued, dealing with customers who balk at paying fair prices, struggling to have people understand the difference in our product vs. something generic from Wal-Mart - aren't REJOICING to see others getting paid fairly (and sometimes more than fairly) for their work...even if it isn't us (yet!)? Laughing at the prices some of these decorators have received for their work is basically behaving like that cheap-o customer we all complain about. No one will value your work if you don't - I say BRAVO to these people for setting their prices, sticking to them, and finding the customers who will pay.

I guess I just get frustrated at the cattiness that seems to exist in this profession sometimes. We should be supporting each other, cheering for every little guy who makes it and reaches the (pardon the pun) top tier of this world of ours - not tearing them down, laughing at their skills, balking at their prices, and basically saying they suck.

There is just no way you could get me to make those cupcakes for $1.50. Are you kidding me. Those lobsters on top takes ages to make, and all those flavors are not just poured out of a box either.

I find it very odd that you bash the price, seing how you would all say your hoorays if a CC'er posted about getting that price for their work.

Amen Sugarsugar!!