Hi guys!!!
Till now, I have baked everything from home. I have only baked for family(I have a huge family) and friends, and have always advised them that I bake at home, without license, which is the reason why I don't advertise. I work, so far, solely by word of mouth and I'm pretty happy with the orders I get. I also love the fact that I know my customers, but maybe, I'm ready for more....

So, my question is....should I keep it small and simple, not advertising, or do I need to take the plunge?

My plunge would be to work out of my new BIL's restaurant. Become totally legal, advertise and take orders from strangers. The minus? Obvious....losing the "coziness" and freedom of working from home.....getting a whacko client every now and then....

the plus? money, for one....can take any order....open doors to bigger things?....

what else am I missing? Maybe you guys can help me make a decision....

Oh Gracie, you STILL can keep your "coziness" because of your artistic interpretation of Sugar...you are in the envialble possition to pick and chose your work.

Also, working from your BIL restaurant...you can always use the fact that you can't take too much work on because your BIL needs and uses the kitchen also.

Plus if he's not charging you too much rent, you still can make total profit!

I'm excited for you!! This for sure will open the doors for you to give the BEST NY decorators a run for their money!

You HAVE to do it! Your living the dream most of us are dying for and you have the talent to back you up!! There is no telling where you would go it you just put it on the line and got out there! Your amazing, and I know you will be great

do your research.....weigh the pros and cons.......then plunge away....i think you should do it

I say go for it!! You are so talented and you need to be recognized for your works of art. See what the terms are for your BILS's restarant. GO FOR IT!!

You have to take advantage of this opportunity! You can still keep it simple in the beginning. Only take on as much work as you're comfortable with! I know you have other things going on too from talking with you in PM's. But this sounds like a golden opportunity. Perfect place to "set up shop" so to speak. Plus, you might even be able to make some things for the restaurant! You never know where this could lead...and you won't unless you give it a try! YOU CAN DO IT!

The biggest downside is pressure, and lack of sleep (maybe). Your work is wonderful, lots of people will love sharing in your creativeness. I say "go for it".

I agree, go for it! You can still call your own shots when it comes to who you accept to do cakes for. You interview the client and it is a two way decision. If the terms are good with your BIL I would say jump in with both feet!
Congratulations!

I say GO FOR IT! Your cakes are amazing and the people in NYC deserve to have another choice! I'm thinkin' one of these days CCer's will be watching YOU on a Food TV Challenge! Look out Sylvia and Colette....here comes Gracie!!

Beth in KY

GO FOR IT!!!
I saw your cake at the bakery expo in Atlantic City - it was amazing!!!!!!

Don't waste your obvious tallent - do it now or years from now you will do the coulda, woulda, shoulda thing! If it fails at least you tried!! Go slowly if you want to also. Don't be afraid to say no! Especially to the weirdo's!!

Good luck!!

I'm so sorry...I said I had talked with you in PM's but I haven't. I thought I was responding to jelligirl.... I need to pay closer attention. That said, I do feel this is a wonderful opportunity. What a fantastic way to get your feet wet without having to buy a pool!

I think you should go for it, just be prepared for the stress of the customers demands, if your doing wedding cakes brides get pretty nasty (I used to sell wedding dresses) other than that your cakes are georgous and if you don't do it wouldnt you have the big "What If" in the back of your head.

i know you will be beyond successful. your work, your talent shines. it needs to be exposed, and be included alongside the work of other new york luminaries.
sometimes taking that big step can be intimidating - the fear of failure - the fear of success.....
no matter what your decision, i wish you all the best.
shine on!

Sounds like a great idea. Think about the plus and minus, do what is best for you. Hope it works out for you.

Adven68,

Your work is really amazing and I am sure you would be able to make it a really successful business and that you will be inundated with orders. Just be aware chefs are messy (I should know I am married to one and we have our own restaurant) so make sure you have a place in the kitchen that you can work in, also you may have to work around the restaurants schedule if they just do dinner service (like we do) mornings would be a good time for you to work as from about lunchtime onwards they are doing prep for the evening's trade and then during service it is absolutely crazy you probably want to stay outta there at that time.

Have a chat with your BIL to find out what his peak times are, when you could access the space etc. Hopefully if he has a large kitchen you will have a lot more options without the staff or you getting in each others way (we have a teeny tiny kitchen so it is really hard to get stuff done when there is more than one other person in there).

Good luck with whatever you decide

Oh my gosh...that was easy......I guess I knew the answer all along. Thaks everyone, for your great support. Bassically, there are no terms at his place. His family owns it. He does the baking, and the bakery is downstairs, totally different kitchen than the main kitchen where they prepare food, so whenever I want, it's there.

Now...how to advertise? Do I need to put the name of his place on a business card? (He doesn't care) Or just me, Irene ...a.k.a. gracie on this thread.

YOU YOU YOU and you alone...you can....give him a bone by adding his name to the addy part of the card ...lol

since I am so " HIDDEN" I have to add "LOWER LEVEL, ( name ) Spa" to my cards I don't mention the Hotel's name as per their request! It would be so much easier...but they advertise as a "family" hotel and having a bakery like mine is not something they want to advertise. lol

Your talent is absolutely amazing!!! This is the first time I have looked at your cakes and I am blown away! I have never seen anything like this. I would love the opportunity you have in front of you and I feel in my heart that with your talent you will go far. Your cakes are exquisite! Please let us know how you are doing once you are on your feet!

Missy

you can also, since it's a seperate kichen and if you want to spend more time with your family..have your brother in law bake your cakes and all you have to do is come in and decorate!

Woo hoo!!

This is PERFECT for you, no questions about it. I second what everyone says here---DO IT!!!!!

you are an amazing artist...you'll prolly get famous.

the only downside is you'll be swamped!

people really do need to see your work....

it just sounds perfect!

Irene, are you kidding me? You are in NYC, home of the high-ticket cake! Of course you should jump in, and your lips should turn blue from staying in that water too long!

Yes, you are going to run into wacko clients, but honey, for the duckies you are going to be making on your cakes, all I can say is just put a big green American dollar sign in front of every word and it will roll off your back like you were smeared in crisco. You can still keep some of your coziness at home by doing all your figure modeling work there. Get a big purse and nobody will ever know.

Oh, my, tell the BIL YES right away. If you need help, call me the day before, I'm on my way, just pick me up at the LIRR station!

Theresa

Go for it. You do excellent work. I wish I had just a tiny bit of your talent. Let us know how it goes.

Thank you guys....I guess there is no question. I JUST spoke to him (BIL) and he said whenever I am ready....
YAY....I'm designing my business cards right now. And I think I know what my name will be. Irene is the word for Peace in Greek.
I think I'll play on the words and name my business
"Cake of Peace"
Is that corny?

I could stick with "The Painted Eye", but that's really my painting stuff and doesn't have much to do with cakes.

Thanks again for all your support....

I better make sure my DS is good to him!!! I truly think God sent him to me through her.

Congratulations to you Irene!!

I love that name. I do NOT think its corney.

(There is a bakery here called Piece-a-Cake. Thats what I thought of when I read yours.)

I wish you the BEST!!

Irene..Peace Cake? lol Or The Painted Cake? or...Peace of Cake!

Or better yet..

Irene's Most Amazing Cakes!

WOW! I love looking at your photos, for me, it's like looking thru a magazine! You are very very talented, and if I were you, I would definately do it!