Ok so I'm a new business and just got a call for a wedding cake. Thrilled!

However I get so thrilled my stomach hurts and I'm nauseous and until the next few calls from the client until it calms down. I am trying deep breathing and its not helping. I am hoping once I'm established and have a few more clients under my belt this will pass??? Please tell me it passes. I just don't want to screw anything up since these are my first calls and I know I set the tone. Ughhh...this call probably won't even go anywhere she just wants a cake for looks not really to serve guests,

for mainly her hubby and her.

However, I still can't shake the stomach butterflies. What did you do to get over this?

I used to be like this with singing in front of people but it was never THIS bad.

Once you get the first couple of weddings out of the way the jitters usually calm down. Good that it's a small cake to start, not much different from a birthday cake, if you would rather think about it that way!

Smittyditty, it really will pass. My first few months in business, whenever I had to contact a potential wholesale account, I got so nervous I couldn't remember my name. When I met with a bride, my knees shook. It took a while, but eventually I got used to it all. 

Thanks Mimi for that affirmation. I was really getting worried I'd be too sick to continue my passion. I'm seriously so sick..I think part of it is the need to make people happy and I'm so worried I won't lol 

At least I know this is unreasonable thinking. Even logically talking myself down from the jitters, doesn't work.

Dayti I'll try to remember that its just a birthday cake!

MimiFix I'm sending for your books, You've got a good head on your shoulders and a lot of experience.

Thank you, MB, that's very sweet. I hope you read my last book, The (Faux) Pastry Chef: How I Found My Baking Fix. It's the story of how I got from there to here.

What has happened to CC forum this month. this forum stuff is wearing on my serious baking sensibilities.  Bizarre threads waste time.  Better to invest in professional publications.

MimiFix:  I will be buying all 3 of your books, and going back to buying books and dvds for my growth in this hobby. Love to make, cookies, breads, quick breads, pizza, sandwich rolls, pastry, pies, candies, caramels, fudges.............. there's a lot more to baking than just wedding cake.  too much frivolous smuck here on cc lately, so I'd rather invest my hard earned money in serious advice, recipes, information.

Don't know if I'd ever go into business, but I think your story will guide me in considering it.

MB, I agree about the weirdness currently on CC. Unfortunately, it's a reflection of our greater world. But I find much comfort in new baking projects. (Working on animal crackers!)

Oh those are super cute Mimi! What are they for other than children?

Thanks again!

I've been experimenting with three-rack baking in my new convection oven. For someone like myself who strives for perfection, I find that convection ovens still requires pan rotation.

I don't know why these cookies are known as "animal crackers" when they're cookies. Same thing with graham crackers. The sweetness level and amount of fat puts them in the cookie category.

Do you prefer them vs regular. I was debating getting one but changed my mine. They sounded very complicated at least when they first came out. All that calculating time difference when cooking wasn't my favorite sport to begin with. Although I still want a double oven, would make Thanksgiving dinner so much easier!

AMy new house comes with a convection oven, I'm definitely concerned. Also because I hear they're noisy :sad:

Those animal cookies are adorable. I'd much rather give my kids those than the junk that usually passes for animal crackers.

I don't like commercial convection ovens for some products; but residential convection baking is great. Decreasing bake temp by 25 degrees is the only adjustment necessary for using the convection cycle. My oven has three racks so my output has increased by 50%. When I first turned it on I thought the fan was broken because it was so quiet. I had planned on purchasing the double oven model, but the bottom oven is fairly low and my back would not be happy. 

And contrary to popular belief, pan rotation is still necessary if you are looking for perfection. I wrote a blog about getting My New Convection Oven! 

Thanks kikiandkyle. The recipe is tasty and healthy: 3 parts whole wheat pastry flour to one part white unbleached flour. My kids and grandkids love them. Cookie cutters are from King Arthur. 

Mimi I can't believe that woman at GE was so rude!!!

A[SIZE=3]Dayti, I ended up speaking with several rude people at GE. They all tried to blame me for the oven's poor performance: I was not baking correctly, I used the wrong pan size, I should have used butter, on and on. I thought it was funny that their resolution was to ban me from buying any more GE cooking products. My new oven is a Whirlpool, and I love it! [/SIZE]

Thanks they actually did book a tasting for Saturday. I still have butterflies but they have died down substantially. I'm sure they will be back Saturday though :( lol. I'm just praying I don't screw things up. I'm also hoping they show..and I'm already getting semi weird vibe only because the wedding is Sep 28th??? Yikes.

That's awesome Mimi I remember you having problems with that oven come to think of it. I'm glad you like your new Whirlpool. I like hearing testimonials like that so you know what to buy. I for one will never buy anything Kitchen-aid brand again! My fridge and dishwasher both are KA and I detest them. I'm not buying one of those energy efficient dishwashers they don't clean a darn thing.

Ooh, the 28th?   Maybe they had someone bail on them.

Good luck!   :)

smittyditty, do you make notes to yourself so you will remember everything? I find it very helpful and comforting; it wards off the shaky knees and pounding heart.

My oven is a KitchenAid. Whirlpool owns several brands (Jenn-Air, Maytag, etc) so I just call everything Whirlpool. Reliability is model-specific. Some of their products are worthless, some are exceptional.  

Mimi that is a good idea about notes I'll try to write some down. I have a contract that covers pretty much everything under the sun.

The sketch is made up already combination of two designs. I hate the topper but what are ya gonna do?

Also her flavor choices are pumpkin and key lime so my house is going to smell really interesting right now!

The bride said that her friend the caterer offered to do all the additional desserts cupcakes, rice crispies, ect. So I'm thinking maybe she just thought her friend would do the cake too?

Probably!  

Its a super cute design.   

Thanks Manic!

Good luck! How exciting for you. Let us know how it goes!

YAY!!!!!! They booked with me! Still deciding on flavors. Banana, Pumpkin, Key Lime flavors.

I'm so excited I did a little dance when they left. lol. Yes that was me doing a ridiculous dance in my living room. I was nervous at first when they got here. It was a bit awkward so I need to work on that. I said hello shook hands and had them come sit down to eat. There was some small talk but it was really like come eat... :) Somehow I need to make that smoother...or maybe it seemed unsmooth as they checked my house out to make sure it was sanitary. They said it was really nice so maybe they were just shocked?? Dunno. This was my tasting anything I can improve upon in the above picture?

Congratulations! And it'll get easier. I promise.

Congrats!