I take orders both by phone and email. I had a strange call yesterday that I had a hard time responding to. It was from a woman who was asking me about starting a cake business. She was concerned with the legalities, license, and more the business and marketing side.

I told her that she should start by checking the legal side and getting together a portfolio of her work...so heres the thing...she has never even done one cake! She just watched the cake boss show and figured that it looked easy and she wants to quit her job and stay home and do cakes ...

So, I just nicely told her perhaps to start with a few cake classes and buy a small set of tips and some books...she did not know what a pastry bag was.

I also told her that she would have to check into the legal issues, bylaws in her area, incorporation for her name, etc.

I just cannot get over the fact that she figures our trade is so easy that you can just jump into it, buy a shop (even before she knows how to make a cake)...She has never even made a normal cake in her life...She also told me(in a real shobbish way) that she took cooking classes with food and knows how to make creme brule...so cakes should be easy. I replied that I am a schooled pastry chef ..but...some of my friends are head and junior chefs (food)and they are amazing at doing food but they leave the pastry and cakes to the pastry people..

I tried to be as nice as possible but she was so know-it-all that I finally told her good luck and I had to go as I was in the middle of baking...

So gals, (and our guy decorators too!) isn't it nice to know that after all our years of training,setting up our business's and working towards doing great cakes for people that some think that our trade is just something you can fall into without any experience.

There are a lot of younger cake gals that know that they can call me with a problem or to borrow equipment and I try to help them all...I believe in passing on what I know to any gal who wants to learn but this is way out there...I am not capable of being cruel and I am not a competitive person. I always wonder what people see in my cakes (I always think they could be better..and some of my work I think is downright ugly..lol) I was trained old school and have struggled in the last 10 years to make cakes that look like today's styles......

I would like to help her..and I told her to keep in touch but what direction should I tell her to go in? Classes? Again, it needs to be a polite response...

WOW.

but with risking sounding stupid... what's a tube? (i've been hobby caking for 2 years now and I've never heard of this?)

OH, I meant tip (sorry, my mistakes are awful)..I told her to buy a set of pastry bags with tips...lol...I have corrected , thanks !!!

Did you ever hear the story about the computer company tech support person who was asked by a customer, which was the Any key? This is what you're dealing with.

I guess she doesn't realize that those cakes are not done in real time, but over a few days. And I'd let her keep thinking that.

Is she in your area? If so, then tell her, sorry, but I cannot advise you, as you would then become my competition.

Theresa

lol...good one!!!

There's being nice, then there's wasting ur time!
It's fine helping people here and there, but this woman is clearly an idiot. If she thinks it's that easy, I'd leave her to it. She won't appreciate the advice u give ( cake and business classes!), as already shown. And she may end up on the phone 24/7 rather than doing her own home work.
If she phones back don't get involved - stick to advising classes, books, YouTube and this site!
xx

I hear yah..I have this lady who has chased me down several times at my kids school wanting me to come over and Teach her cake decorating...Just the other day she jumped out of her car while I was walking and stuffed a piece of paper and pencil in my face for my phone number...I kinda rudely said.."I don't have time..I'm very busy"...she said "Even in the evenings"..."Yup and I kept walking!!!I'm not normally rude that way but I mean Geezz.....Go take a class...I did...

I too have a friend like that , in fact I almost thought you are talking about her. She's frustrated with her job and romanticizes about how awesome it would be to have her own shop with her kid right next to her while she does really cool cakes and has the freedom to come and go since it's her business. Let me tell you!!!, I took the wilton classes, got all the books, go on youtube, here, catch all the shows so that maybe I can get a scrap of a hint etc... When I saw her cakes I was shocked at the poor quality and half arssed designs, not to mention there is just no technique because as she calls it she was self taught. I have nothing against this, but her cakes are sad. Every time I see them I try to give her a tip or a hint but she shoots me down and has this know it all attitude. I figured that im wasting my time since she knows it all what can i bring to the table. BTW she asked me if I would like to work for her/babysit (thought she never said anything about watching her spoiled brat) when she opens her shop. The more I see her cakes and her style I think "my husband does not want me to work while i go to school because school comes first." Ps he does not care what i do in my free time specially since i go to school part time

It's not just cakes... walk into Home Depot and listen to people who "saw it on TV" and decide to remodel a bathroom. "It's just drywall and tile, right?"

So we just wish them all well, and say good luck. No time for idiots!

I just heard from another person that she was talking to someone who was waiting for her inspection to be approved by the state for her new cake business. Oh, and by the way, she could bake okay, but she didn't know how to decorate cakes, and was planning on taking a cake decorating class at some point. So I guess the person who called you wasn't the only nutjob out there.

I find it interesting, the amount of people who think they can do everything they see on TV. I think some of the cake shows are ok, but the minute 500 other shows came out I knew everyone would become an expert and jump on the cake decorating train. People love to follow the latest trends!

I've had several people ask me if I started decorating because of Cake Boss or Ace of Cakes (personally really dislike that show). I'm like "NO! I took my first cake decorating class over ten years ago when I was still a teenager!" Waaaay before food blogging, competitions, and tv shows!

Even today, I don't have my own business. I do it as a hobby which is fine for me for now. I know some people are going to get a reality check when they start a cake business and they don't even know what a pastry bag is!

I just can't believe people. Granted...I've never had anyone chase me down for anything related to cake decorating but shooooot, they have asked for recipes.

When I started testing my skills to see what I'd like to include as part of my "biz" offerings, I admit, I didn't take a class. I did try cakes & my cakes always taste fabulous and fresh. As for the way they look? Well, that's a different story. I soon found, that I have absolutely zero patience for the decorating aspect of cakes. Zip. Zilch, Nada, Butkis....that would be a big fat donut hole!!!!!

And, I only got to torting, filling, & frosting smooth. Well, I'm still not perfect....So, now I continue my cake education but only for family & close friends. Unpaid gigs. I have tons of respect for those who have a vision with regard to cake design. I'm a specialty cookie manufacturer with great packaging ideas. NOT an artist. And, that's okay.

That lady in question will no doubt get frustrated with the whole process and just drop it. I'm sure she'll drop the whole thing early on. And, as far as helping her any further...just don't. Or, just keep repeating the things you've already said.

Anybody have a dentist's drill? I have a cavity that needs fixed....Oh, wait....I'm sure there's a video on youtube that shows you how to perform a root canal! Ha ha ha ha!

lol...you all made my day. I just had a looong day of baking and decided to check my post before bed and you are all so great...you made my day. And thanks for letting me know about the tubes thing....I am a 35 year relic in this biz and I always have called them tubes and I double guessed myself....

Yaknow, I would have encouraged her. "Yes, you should buy a business!" "Yes it's totally fun. You can absolutely have your child with you in the shop and come and go as you please." "Nah, it doesn't take any special skills."

And in 4 months or so, buy all her shop's equipment for 10 cents on the dollar.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I have to admit, I've actually laughed at this question before..... i didn't mean to, but I just couldn't stop myself. I was in the Wilton aisle at Michaels ( I teach classes there) and someone was staring blankly at the wall. I asked if they needed help. They said they were making a wedding cake this weekend (it was Wed) and they didn't know how to stack a cake

I told them their best bet was one of those stands that keep the cakes separate instead of stacked. They said "but the bride wanted it stacked". I said "Well, then you should have practiced before now." and walked away. They bought the stand.

Many years ago a friend of mine was lamenting about the lack of a partner for a tennis tournament. I'd never played tennis, but I'm very athletic and good at softball and volleyball. I offered to be his partner so we met for a practice session. Needless to say, we did not play in the tournament....because I sucked at tennis !! It isn't as easy as it looked and I sure learned my lesson about assuming I could do something just because it looked easy !

I get lots of people who want to learn cake decorating and I tell them to buy the Wilton books and a small kit and give it a shot. That's what I did. My first cake took 9 hours to decorate!! But I was hooked and kept trying. Some people would do that and some wouldn't. I didn't get to take any classes and I hope someday I can, but everybody has to start somewhere. The key is to have the passion to keep at it .

Most people just think making a wedding cake or any cake is just cracking open a box of cake mix and there you have a cake! (LOL) Just had this said to me with this wedding cake I just did for an ignorant family member. grrrrrrr
Hamsquad

its the old buy a digital camera and you are professional photograher all over again, there are nuts in every line that think its easy. "if they can ill just buy the same tool and in no time............"

tell her to sit down and copy the most elaborate cake picture you can find and see if she likes her results, then tell her to divide her time and costs while adding on rent and her own pay and everything that goes with it!

I had someone who I had previously made cakes for her family that would call me and ask to borrow my tips and my colors. Once she even asked me to come over and actually do the swags on the side of a wedding cake that she was getting paid for because she was afraid to do them. I only knew her because I used to work with her husband. Some nerve!

dianne65 you are an absolutely wonderful person to help that person out!
I've done the same thing before too, but it was for a dear friend who is like a sister to me. But for the other people who are clueless about cake decorating and never bake a cake, how do they come up with the mindless, thoughtless things they say and do? What has the world come to these days? Just a thought. For all the ladies and guys who spend countless hours honeing your craft, my hat is off to you, you are simply the BEST!
Hamsquad

Yup a lot of people think watching a show on T.V will make them cake decorators. They have no idea. Its my hobby but it is no joke to torte,fill and decorate. I have lots to learn and I am grateful for cake central where I learn so much more. The people that do this for a living I respect because it is hard work.

My 38 year old niece wanted to decorate a cake so she bought some Wilton fondant. She couldn't believe she had to roll it out! She thought it came already rolled and she just nicely laid it on her cake. She ended up icing it and let her kids make the decorations. She gave up cake decorating after that.