Hey all,
I was just wondering if you ever get cake requests that you don't like. For instance, some cake designers may prefer tiered cakes to stacked cakes, to work only with buttercream, to work only with fondant (Duff), or some cake designers hate ready-made cake displays like the ever-popular fountain set, or a client just requests some tacky color combination, etc.
Would you turn it down if it is not your style and could not imagine yourself being happy while making it? or Would you make it to the client's specifications even if it means your business image might falter for making that hideous cliche of a cake?
How do you handle these situations? Am I making sense? Probably not...I'll stop now 
I usually make is clear if it is a request that you know would be hideous. Most clients will listen to you because you are the expert. I can draw a basic example for them and try to show them that it won't work.
As for something I personally don't want to do. I just say that I am unable to accomidate that and have several people that I refer to .
Hope this helps
Dawn
For me working as a professional I don't question any style that a client wants and I just do it even if I don't like the color or style thats part of the job.
I had a bride come to me because she went to a well known bakery and wanted a basic cake with roses going down the tiers, she showed me the picture, and they said "no, we don't do that". And she showed them the shower cake she wanted and they said "no, that won't look good". This is not the first time I've heard this about the Bakery. Go figure?
I won't do a cake design that I know is over my head and I couldn't be sure I can do it.
I was wondering something similar to this myself - I was recently asked by a friend what do you do if someone asks you to make a cake of a theme you find offensive in some way (racial, religious, political, or other kind of thing) that you couldn't morally do or just plain were offended about? I didn't have an answer as it hasn't happened to me (yet), but goes along the same lines as this I guess. Anyone ever run into this kind of dilemma? Kind of goes along with this subject, as it would be something you don't want to do.
Trust me, by no means am I prude (sp) but, I don't think I could do one of those naughty cakes.
I don't know why, I just don't think there is anything cute about them. It's just something I don't want to do.
In fact I know I would refuse to do anything racial, religious. Maybe political.
I don't want to do anything religious - I think it's kind of creepy to cut up a cross, a picture of Jesus anything on that line. I'm not religious, I just find it on the line of being disrespectful.
...As for something I personally don't want to do. I just say that I am unable to accomidate that and have several people that I refer to .
Me too. I tell them, "If I can't do it, I'll be the first one to tell you," and then I'll help them find someone who can.
One such example is fondant. I don't do it and if they really really want it .... if it's a deal breaker...... then I refer them to someone who works with it and will do a good job for them. I explain that our company philosophy is to "keep it simple" and that includes the price ..... I choose NOT to have to charge a bride that much for a cake, like I'd have to if I worked with fondant.
I was asked to do chocolate penis' for a bridal shower. The girl offered me really good money to do them for her. I simply stated that I was a christian and that I didn't want my name on anything that was "risque" (sp). She was fine with that. She did come back later and asked me to do a birthday cake for her little boy.
I think if you are nice with your answer and not judgemental then people tend to accept your answer.
Lu
As far a design (colors, flowers whatever) if I can do it, I will. I will carefully guide them into a pleasing combination...however I try not to be judgemental of people's tastes. It is their occasion after all. I just try to offer alternate ideas. Sometimes that is all it takes to allow the person to change their idea.
I do not do naughty (though I have nothing against them) or the character cakes with piped stars all over them (again, nothing wrong with them). I prefer to create a scene for a character cake and you can put the toppper on. With the naughty I just mention that I am not able to do that type of thing since I bake in a church kitchen. I could jsut see the pastor walking in to say Hi! UGH!!! 
As for political and religious themes I would never say no to one of those because I would not want to be in a position of descrimination. If I refuse to do a menorah cake, but do a christening cake then I believe that would place my company in a position for a lawsuit.
Good Luck
Julia
I currently do wedding and special occasion cakes on contract for a local restaurant/bakery. Because I am in a professional relationship with the restaurant, I don't feel like I can turn anything down, whether or not I like the design, will enjoy doing it, etc. I have made a couple of really ugly wedding cakes for them that are NOT in my portfolio.
For my personal business, if it's not something I want to do, I either say I'm not available or quote it high. Unless it's from someone I "know" -- then I don't have the heart to tell them their cake is too ugly for me to spend my time on, and I suck it up and do it.
Great thread.
If it's in regard to the person's taste, color choices, etc. I would just do the cake. I would try and show them different options, but if they have their heart set on a design that I personally find unattractive, then I have to just be polite and do what they want. I'm not the fashion police.
Cakes I would never do---anything degrading, offensive, or just wrong. I know that's vague and subjective, but I know what I mean. 
As for cakes that I personally hate doing-LAST MINUTE CAKES and cakes requiring bridges, fountains, etc. I hate rigging things.
I can't wait to read everyone's responses!
Angie
What's one way of saying no to a cake because "you're booked" without actually saying, "I'm booked" if you really aren't? I don't want to lie. . .
What if they say to another person, "Oh no, they are booked this week" or something?
I wouldn't do anything that is obscene, anything political, or ANY of those character pans with the little stars all over like acookieobsession said. . .
I don't tell them I'm booked. I just tell them I'm sorry I won't be able to do their cake for them this time but to please remember me the next time they need a cake. That's not a lie.
My life is a VERY FULL one and believe me...I am always busy with something!
Does this help?
Beth in KY
I haven't really gotten requests for controversial cakes and I hope I never do!
Lately, most of the work I get is last minute. I have trouble with saying "no".
Like Angelas2babies, even though I have a fountain and stairs, I don't like to use them. And it might be for lack of practice, but I HATE when somebody wants fondant drapes on their cake!
Marie
I haven't really gotten into selling cakes yet, just baking them on occasion, but I have already told myself that I will not do any of those naughty cakes because I am a Christian and I know God would not like me to do that. Also, what would I say to my kids when they ask what it is? Especially a man's penis. As for religious cakes, I sure would do them, as long as I knew I could do it and it wasn't too complicated. I have already done the cross cake and used the book cake to make it like the Bible with scripture written on it. I am still kind of scared to start selling cakes because I'm afraid I will get orders that are way over my head and I wouldn't be able to do them. I guess I'll get the courage one day.
After so many years making cakes I can "smell" an imposible client, that tipe of person that no matter what you do, they won't be happy any way,
so I much rader let them go, than having them telling everybody they were not happy with my work.
no fontains, no cherubs, no stairs, I had a client ask me for a cake with an image of the virgin Mary, I though it was creepy to cut the virgin with a knife and then eat it, but she said no problem, so I did it.
I try to give advice to my clients, 90% they trust, the other 10% get ofended if you tell them their idea is not gonna work, I need to do things I belive they are gonna work.
Well, if you do not like character cakes, an easy response is that it is "illegal" due to copyright laws. You can technically only do them if the cake is for personal use. There are some threads on this. You are supposed to only do scenes that pre-made figures or icing sheets go on.
As for naughty cakes, people will respect that you are not comfortable with it. I think most people requesting those anticipate the answer may be "no".
As for colors that may be in poor taste, I agree with the others about maybe moving them in a direction where the cake would be more appealing, but if they want what they want, then just do it. You wouldn't want to be known as a cake snob or something.
If it is outside of your talent, then definitely direct them to someone who could help them.
You have to remember that your name is on every cake you make. If it's something that you feel will not reflect well on you, don't do it! You be the judge. Is the money you will make worth putting an ugly cake out there for all to see?
You have to remember that your name is on every cake you make. If it's something that you feel will not reflect well on you, don't do it! You be the judge. Is the money you will make worth putting an ugly cake out there for all to see?
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Because I specialize in doing what none of the bakers in this area will do, I take the attitude of "tis not for me to judge"... I do however refer cakes with overpiping to just about every local bakery 
I SWEAR that some of them can't decorate a cake if it's past 1985 on the design around here...
We got turned down a lot for our original designs we wanted for our centerpiece wedding cake. We were turned down for even a simple wilton brush embroidery design by at least 2 bakers.. When I started in this biz, I decided that if I couldn't do something I was going to have someone I could refer them to who can and be known for being helpful as a baker.
As for the naughty cakes, it all depends on what they're requesting. I honestly don't think I could bring myself to do a "male unit" cake even though I have seen some that are amazingly tasteful with the design.
If I think it is going to be really ugly, I suggest an alternative. They always listen to my advice. I've never had to make anything awful, but I don't think I would accept if it was that bad. I want to be proud of everything I make. I don't ever want my competition to snicker and say "Guess who made that!"
If I think it is going to be really ugly, I suggest an alternative. They always listen to my advice. I've never had to make anything awful, but I don't think I would accept if it was that bad. I want to be proud of everything I make. I don't ever want my competition to snicker and say "Guess who made that!"
Agree. The guests will NEVER say, "Man, the bride picked out an ugly cake, didn't she?" They will ALWAYS say, "Remind me not to order a cake from THAT place!"
Great thread.. well I have only been asked once to do a naughty cake it was for a bachelorette party. I troubled myself over it for weeks and then decided, ok... I kept it tasteful, but let the girls ordering have extra icing should they choose to add anything. I also left the cake at the dropoff point with a person I didn't know and who didn't know me.. put no logos or identifying information on it. I intentionally made it not look so great so that they wouldn't ask for it again.. as for my child, well she was at mom's day out when I made it so she never saw it... I am a christian and now know for sure I WILL NOT DO THIS TYPE OF CAKE AGAIN, it made me feel horrible. I have done a butt before on a sheet cake for someone retiring, but that was different, not lude...
I do character cakes for my family and friends to avoid copyrights... but I agree I hate them.. and for some reason I continue to buy the dumb pans...
oh well... good luck on those not so easy no's... we all have them at some point!
I've loved reading everyone's responses.
I've turned down a few cakes because they were either way out of my skill set (5' tall statue of David sculpted cake) or because I felt the couple's design (that they weren't willing to change in any way) would've reflected poorly on my business.
I think it's perfectly ok to set boundaries with your business. If you're not comfortable with a client, a project, or a design you're well within your rights to say no.
Agree. The guests will NEVER say, "Man, the bride picked out an ugly cake, didn't she?" They will ALWAYS say, "Remind me not to order a cake from THAT place!"
So true! I've said that a couple of times myself not even realizing it may not be the decorator's fault.
I asked this question because I am more interested in maintaining creative freedom with my cake designs. I would prefer to work with fondant and gumpaste but I can just imagine getting some client that wants a cheesy old school buttercream (nothing wrong with buttercream, I'm just not as good at it as fondant) design from the 1960's. I wouldn't mind doing political or religious cakes necessarily, just ones that aren't cheesy....
I'll bet Duff gets requests for buttercream once in a while but I've heard him say on his show that they only work with fondant. I wonder how he says "no" and why....
I'll bet Duff gets requests for buttercream once in a while but I've heard him say on his show that they only work with fondant. I wonder how he says "no" and why....
Probably the same way I say no to fondant: "I don't do fondant."
Nglez09 and Indydebi, thanks!
I did a buttercream overpiping and cornelli lace cake that I just hated! The bride loved it but I was miserable doing and did not enjoy it at all. Now I don't do those types of cakes. If a bride is set on that style, I send them to the publix bakery. (because that's the only one besides wal-mart)
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