narie--what part of indiana? I am orig. from Hammond. Back to the topic, I am on a local forum and a lady pm'd me and asked if I would make her hubby a bday cake. I'm a little leery about it, I have never actually sold a cake and I am not licensed or anything. I am thinking about saying no for fear that I will get caught.
Thanks to Alice being my back bone, I have turned down several that want free cakes. It's truly hard to say no, but I am only donating 1 cak a week to the church for the laydowns and I have been told, "that's all you brought" on several occisions.
So put on a brave face like I have and try not to let it bother you.
Patricia
I just turned down what would have been my first wedding cake. I actually met with them 6 weeks ago, gave them a taste test (which I don't do since I mostly do cakes for family & very close friends) & theydidn't return the contract or deposit. Then, wahlah (is that a word?) I get the contract & deposit 6 weeks later without even a note as to why they waited so long. I was very clear about getting it back to me as I wasn't committed until we had both signed the contract & I received the deposit. I had a bad feeling about this one, plus I'm scheduled for carpal tunnel surgery mid-May so I returned the contact (unsigned), the check, and a very nice letter about no longer being available, etc. One part of me say's "I want to do my first wedding cake" but another part of me tells me to be realistic and get that darn surgery done.
Call me a freak but aside from children seeing the cakes, I don't see any problem in doing adult cakes for adults. They are not that difficult to do, some of them are very funny and you can charge more because you know they're not going to get one from wal-mart! It's not like grownups have never seen boobies or wee wee's before, I don't think we're corrupting anyone with edible "parts" so might as well make the cake 
I almost always say no now. Especially when they start telling me HOW to design the cake, BAUK at the price, request writing when not a part of the design, or if they seem clueless as to cake design, or the time required, because then they won't apreciate my work. I just look at them and tell them they would be happier with a cake from Lunds Bakery. At my job I heard it has been somewhat of a game to get me to say yes. 
BUT, I am not doing this for others, I am doing this as my art. I don't want a bakery and I don't earn a living from it.
Then as far as naughty cakes or rude cakes, I just don't understand the lure, because eventually you would have to cut it. And I feel the same way about pregnancy bellies or baby cakes also. Turns my stomach. So everytime I see one of those cakes on CC I say or sure pretty now but just wait, someone has to cut it. 
(Sorry folks - just my feelings.)
WELL, my 2 cents on it....when I 1st got started, I turned down wedding cakes 'cause I was really intimidated about doing them. I don't now. BUT here's what I seem to deal with more than I'd like to...customers that want a Colette Peters or Mike's Amazing Cake but want to pay Walmart prices. I REALLY try to be reasonable but some will either go with another design or just cancel. If they were difficult to work with, I usually don't do another cake for them and the booked sign goes up. I hate the "Let's Make a Deal" people with the nasty attitudes or those that think I'm their personal "cake lady" and I'm supposed to drop what I'm doing JUST to do their cakes. I will turn them down. I turn down cakes when I'm sick and if the customer is unreasonable about it (and YES, I've had people not understand that I'm sick)...I never do a cake for them again either. And you sometimes just have to schedule time off for yourself if you're a workaholic. But now that I've been doing this for a minute & I know how crazy some people can get, I don't have that big of a problem finding a way out of doing a cake.
I usually chat with them enough before they actually order or sign a contract to be able to know if I'll want to work with them or not. If I ever find one I don't think I want to work with (haven't yet), I'll just say, "Oh dear, that weekend's booked already, since we first spoke." Since they don't have the date reserved without a deposit, I make sure we're both sure, before they give the deposit.
Cupcake cakes is one new thing I'm considering doing, but I may say no to in the future, after I try one...
The only ones I've turned down so far are one for a day I'll be gone and one for July 7, 2007. Om overbooked that day...
I have a standard rule: I MUST have 2 weeks notice to do a birday or special occasion cake. Wedding cakes....MONTHS in advance. EVERYONE that calls me without two weeks notice I say "No, I'm sorry, I need 2 weeks notice."
I did turn down a wedding cake when the MOG wanted to know if I could do a cake for 100 people with LOTS of flowers for less than $1.00/serving. When I told her No she asked what I suggested. I suggested WalMart. I heard later, she DID get the cake from Walmart and paid MORE than $1.00/serving. GO FIGURE!!
Beth in KY
You know, I do the same thing (as Bethola). I have rules but there are still those that break them (at least try to). I have a calendar that no one seems to pay attention to and are disappointed when I tell them that I'm booked for their date. I tell them that whenever they KNOW they want a cake they need to reserve a date at least and we can discuss the details later. If they are still undecided, I let them know that a more dedicated cake order will be taken in their place. I let them know that I do get booked fast 'cause some people call me months in advance. I ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT stand it when someone calls me 1 or 2 days before their husband or child or even mother's birthday asking me for a cake when they knew, either all this person's life or at least most of it, that their birthday was coming up. I don't operate like Walmart or Krogers, I don't have frozen cakes in the back that I can just whip out in a minute. And not only that, 9 times out of 10, they want something "off the chain" or completely elaborate....sometimes it takes days for some pieces to even dry. I talk with my customers also and try to feel them out and I have pegged most of the customers I deal with, right on the nose. And some of these people are really crazy. No matter how you look at it...that person will come one day that you will just have to say no to...unfortunately for me, my days seem to come too close together. 
LOL Thank you for the great customers with the great referrals
My standard answer to "How early should we book with you?" is ....
"That totally depends on how organized the OTHER brides are who want the same date as you."
I COULD tell them "6 months" in advance, but I'm booked on some dates more than 6 months out, so I am not putting myself in the position of having to answer the statement of "but you SAID 6 months was ok!"
Like right now..... I'm open two weeks from now. I'm booked for New Year's Eve.
I just turned down a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cake. First off, less then two weeks notice and I do not do character cakes....ever.
She was upset, .."my firiend refered me to you"... of course she did, I don't advertise
I referred her to another lady from my church that does cake.
I would say no to private parts cakes I am so not a prude but no thanks
As I was reading through the thread, I thought "I have or would never turn down a cake based on a design request"....until I read this. This would be where I would draw the line too!
Unfortunately, I have had to turn down 5 cakes and 2 wedding cakes in the last month as we sold our house and are moving across country.
I am so sad because I don't know anyone where we are moving to and I will have no clients!
Oh well, life goes on.
rstml,
You won't be lonely. There are alot of CC addicts here. Welcome!
i would love to do some adult cakes but no-one ever orders them! i have jus bought debbie browns naughty cakes so hopefully i can convince someone! i too draw the line at toilet/kitty litter cakes - i can never understand the need to do those, just gross.
if they ever find out you make em....the phone will ring off the wall.
i don't do em....and my excuse was always..."i don't have a p!@#s shaped pan.
which always worked like a charm...
until 1 day...
a couple of girls came in wanting one....i used my old "l'd make you one if i had the pan...."
THEN
one of the girls goes "wqe just bought a pan....here it is"....and plopped it on the counter...CRAPOLA!
i had to make it then....ugh....that morning my baker kept hiding it in places i'd find it just to hear me scream....it was shoking looking...even uniced.
anyhoo....boy did i get alot of calls for that later...never did use the pan excuse again....i just tell them no.....i sure didn't want to be known for that.
i have been asked to make some pretty dsiscusting things ....by the most normal looking people.....they like to go into great detail....i tell since they know so much about it maybe they should make it themselves.
one lady wanted one with a vienna sausage...that somehow got propelled out of the cake....whatever!
i turn down alot of cakes that are too worky...hurts my widdle brain
I limit myself to 2 cakes each week. That's pretty much all I can handle on my own. Sometimes a wedding cake can take me as much as 25 hours to decorate and 2 of those in a week is my absolute maximum.
So far this year I've turned down 3 clients who have wanted cakes on weekends I'm already booked, but like indydebi, when asked how long in advance people should book, it's almost impossible to predict. I do tell my customers that I'll take a booking up to 12 months in advance. I think we just have to understand that there are only so many hours in the day and we can't please everybody.
I think it's fasanating (sp?) that brides think that geting a wedding cake from safeway or vons is going to save them money. I've looked at the prices and they charge $868.00 for a 3 teir cake iced in gross from a can butter cream icing! and the dec. are soo ugly just large poka dots and some cheap flowers.
and the serving chart clames that a 6"x3" round = 16 servings!
The only time I've said no was a request for a childrens cake (35 children) that was needed for two days hence. I was already up to my eyeballs in another request and couldn't do it. People are really clueless as to the amount of time that is invested in each cake.
I've been wanting to ask this question for awhile and it seems okay in this thread.... my husband worked with a woman who is a lesbian and she and her partner were having twins... she mentioned in passing asking me to do a cake for a baby shower. It made me feel really uncomfortable. I have gay friends and I love them but this wasn't an adoption where they were taking in a child that was abandoned or troubled or anything - they were actually physically pregnant. I didn't want to turn them down if they did ask b/c I don't think they're bad people and I didn't want them to think I thought that - does that make sense? Thank God I didn't have to debate it at all b/c they never actually got into details or asked me directly to make the cake. But I was all in knots about it and how to respond - it would be hard to say "I'm booked that weekend" when they know I don't do this professionally.
I hope I haven't offended anyone because that is NOT my intention. If you want to debate me please just PM me and don't turn the whole thread ugly. I just wondered if others would turn down a cake that was against their beliefs - like maybe a cake that celebrated something else you didn't believe in - like maybe an orgy cake.... (just trying to think of something people might think would be an offensive cake).
imarts if you are anything like me you put your heart and soul into your cakes and how could you possibly do that when you don't feel right about doing it? you don't have to offend anyone by saying that you're already booked or whatever. i can't think right now what would make me feel that way but if i could i sure as heck wouldn't want to make a cake celebrating it!
I'm lost. I'm not sure I understand. You feel uncomfortable doing a cake for a lesbian because she isn't adopting but having the baby naturally? You don't have a problem with gay people, their your friends and you love them. got that. I don't understand what is against your beliefs? Gay people having kids? (not trying to debate it, just confused)
But nonetheless, never do anything that compromises what you believe in....especially for money. And if you don't believe in it, don't feel bad about it...'cause it's what you believe, you are entitled to your own opinion but if you do feel uncomfortable & it's against everything you feel, you will have to do what you have to do, so that you don't do this cake, any others like it or anything that you don't believe in. Stand firm in it, 'cause you may encounter this situation again.
I usually chat with them enough before they actually order or sign a contract to be able to know if I'll want to work with them or not. If I ever find one I don't think I want to work with (haven't yet), I'll just say, "Oh dear, that weekend's booked already, since we first spoke." Since they don't have the date reserved without a deposit, I make sure we're both sure, before they give the deposit.
Cupcake cakes is one new thing I'm considering doing, but I may say no to in the future, after I try one...
The only ones I've turned down so far are one for a day I'll be gone and one for July 7, 2007. Om overbooked that day...
Just an idea to make your cupcape cakes easier to deal with, I dont remember if I read this somewhere or just came up with it. Anyways, once I have the cupcake placed on the board I used some melted chocolate wafers and put a dab on the bottom of each of the cupcakes on the outside and a few every 2nd to 3rd one in the center of the board to make sure they dont move. This ensures there is no movement during transport and also as you are spreading the icing. Works great for me and as long as you tell people what it is it works out. I have seen a lot of people eathing the chocolate before taking off the paper! good luck.
Paule
My problem doesn't come with MAKING the pieces and parts cakes (no one has asked, so it hasn't been a problem at all lol). My problem comes in EATING a pieces and parts cake. Makes me feel like a canibal. I don't eat puppy or kitty cakes either. Can't help it.
I just wondered if others would turn down a cake that was against their beliefs - like maybe a cake that celebrated something else you didn't believe in - like maybe an orgy cake.... (just trying to think of something people might think would be an offensive cake).
My beliefs are also much different from yours, I would personally LOVE to do that cake. But, yes, I would turn a cake down if I were really offended by it. I'm not offended by much, but if, say, our local KKK group asked me to do a cake, I would definitely say no. I don't believe in forcing your beliefs, but I do think you have to remain true to yourself. There are other places people can go to get cakes, I wouldn't compromise myself.
I'm just starting making wedding cakes and need practice. People know this and are generally happy to let me experiment in exchange for an at-cost wedding cake. So I get a lot of "friend of a friend" calls from people who start the conversation with "I hear you make cheap wedding cakes." 
The only person I have turned down flat was the sister of a friend who was just putting my friend through the wringer in terms of wedding demands. She just didn't understand that weddings don't just "happen" and it takes some effort and planning. She just assigned Friend some wedding tasks and told her to get them done.
The kicker was when she told my friend that she couldn't bring a date to the wedding because "the bridesmaids aren't bringing dates." Then in the same breath, she asked Friend to have me do her cake. I said no. You do not treat my friends badly and get rewarded with my cakes. Friend was more than fine with that.
Well, I have turned down a lady many people around here know as "Power Point Lady" -- twice. Far too difficult to please, extremely high expectations for Wal Mart prices.
I remember "Power Point Lady"! 
I haven't turned down a cake from home yet as I don't get many orders (which is fine by me right now LOL) and I haven't had many strange requests.
At work though, I've had LOTS of nos. Even though we use frozen cakes, I still turn down MOST same day orders. The fact that someone FORGOT their kid's cake is just appalling to me. Granted, I know some things can get overlooked, and if the person is really nice and such, I might do it. If they get rude or act like they are entitled or that I don't have anything else to do (or if I'm really swamped), I say flat out no.
I wouldn't do a cake that was against my beliefs. I've been at my job for 2 years now (supermarket) and a few months after I started, one of the kids that worked up front came and asked me to do a cake. The kid wanted me to put a photo of the plane flying into the WTC onto the cake. I said no. I thought that was horrible and was so offended I could barely even speak. My (now) boss said that he knew the kid who the cake was for and that his birthday is 9/11 and that's all he hears about since then. I still said no. I said that someone else can do that cake because I refused. I would do a cake for the kid, but not with a photo like that on it.
On a lighter note, I have done a penis cake and a butt cake. I enjoy doing them! 
i turned down cakes for the past 2 wks while i recover from surgery.
I did have a lady call me on a Sat. morning & wanted to know if I could do a cake for her sister's bday w/flowers & butterflies on it. I say, "when?" she says, "For tonight"
Uhhhhh....NO.
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