Okay Has Anyone Faced Anything Like This Before??
Decorating By Renelle Updated 30 Mar 2007 , 1:32pm by lionladydi
I went to see a client who is having an EXTRAVAGANT (understatement!) birthday party for her daughter. The theme is Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. As the people rsvp, they must include their childrens clothing size as every atendee will receive their own costume. Oh yea, those invitations they are responding to.......$20.00 EACH!! Okay, so that gives you a little idea of the $$$$$.
I did a LOT of homework before I went to see her so I would have several ideas for cakes. Yes "cakes". She wants a Pirate ship for Peter Pan and another cake for Tink. Well, She is okay with the pic of the pirate cake I have made before...she pulls out a book with the picture of the cake she wants for the Tinkerbell cake. Guess what??? It was a Collette Peters book and the cake is called Caprice de Sacques. Ohmigosh..its incredible to say the least. ANYWAY... as I was explaining to her about the icings and fondant.she said to me "Oh, it doesn't matter what it tastes like because nobody is going to eat those cakes...they're just for show." WHAT???? She is getting cakes from some Epicurean something or other for everyone to eat. I then explained about dummy cakes and how that would better serve her. She is fine with that. I
I have NEVER had this happen. At first, I was a bit offended, then I realized..hey wait a minute, I can start on the cakes NOW for the party 3 weeks from now. Well, I was sooo taken aback that told her I would have to call her with a price.
As our chit-chat continued, she went on to talk about how her daughter (the party girl) keeps losing her diamond studs. Like she lost one of the yellow diamonds and one of the pink diamonds. So now she is wearing the regular $10,000.00 pair until mom can get around to replacing the others. Oh WAIT A MINUTE...did I mention yet that this party girl is turning "3"???!!!!
I am now faced with the dilemna of how much to charge this person. It is going to be a LOT of work and I certainly don't want to short change myself...but..I also want to be ethical and not go overboard.
OKAY fellow CC friends...what would you do??????
I sure don't know the answer, I would just charge what my usual prices. All I can say is WOW!!!
Susan
Since you are putting all this work into sculptured cakes, you definitely need to charge as much, if not more, than you would for a real cake. Styrofoam dummies often cost more than the price of the baked cake, and from your description, I see no reason why you should absorb that cost.
What is your standard price per serving for a fondant-covered cake? It would be that, plus supplies and time to do the detailed work.
I have already made conscious decisions as to pricing, if I ever decide to charge. And I have already resolved myself to never negotiate or compromise my prices. I have had too many requests for cakes that I have turned down, due to not being in business, I know what they are charging in this area, and nobody within 30 miles does sculpted cakes, so my price is my price, end of discussion. Walmart is open 24 hours for those who disagree.
Theresa 
I agree with earlier post. I would charge just like a wedding cake.
Don't be afraid to charge what you think is fair and right for you. She obviously has the money and I'm sure will pay whatever you want, especially if she expects you to make a Colette Peters inspired cake.
Good Luck
Ale
I would not worry about how much money she spends on things or how much those earrings cost. Price the cake as you think is fair for the work you're being asked to do. Charge what you charged before for the pirate cake (unless it's a bigger version of course!) and then figure out what you'd charge for a Colette Peters cake. (THat souds like it should be a pretty penny -- sorry but can't see the cake in your post.) Just be fair to yourself.
You'll be happy with your price, and she apparently doesn't have a problem spending money.
I also think that if you undercharge, she sounds like someone who may not like that because she apparently likes to throw the amount she spends around. Pretty tactless, but seems to be the way she plays it.
Hope this helps. Sarah
I think you need to charge whatever you normally charge. Sure the lady has bucks and this is quite the affair, but you have to consider that you're reaching a bunch of other attendees who might not be in the same social status as this lady. I'd stick with whatever you would charge the next guy down the road. Is she certain that she only wants dummy cakes? That just does not make sense. (Of course, neither does putting diamonds into the ears of a three year old)
Thanks for all of your input. You have helped me to make my decision. I will charge per serving just as if it were an edible cake. It is true that the dummies actually cost more than real cake and also, there are scads of handmade bows, pearls, roses and painted fondant. It kind of looks like a psychedelic design...for lack of a better term..hehe. Lots of designs on the cake that have to be individually painted. It will be an experience I won't soon forget for sure!!
Make sure you are being paid for your TIME, not just the normal serving charge. This is a work of art, not a sheet cake. If it takes you an hour to make a bow, and you charge $20/hour, then it's $20 plus supplies per bow. Make sure to cover your dusts, colors, etc, etc, and get at least enough down for a deposit to cover the supplies, non-refundable. You don't need a $2000 styrofoam cake sitting around not paid for if she canges her mind!
You might also consider asking her if she wants is laquered as a keepsake, since it won't be eaten. I know there are topics here to show how to do that.
My one thought is that since she's not using you for the cake itself, it's the ethical/liability question on that too... BUT, I think in this case, you do need to consider what she is spending on everything else because as another mentioned, she may be one who does take offense to something being too cheap (I have a SIL this way.. She's got the attitude that "if it costs more, it HAS to be better")..
O.k. what would Colette charge for that amount of work, remember, she charges what her market will bare for that level of work without apologizing for it (nor should anyone else in the industry). What is 70+ hours of work multiplied by $13-17/hr living wages for your area... Oh, remember, state requires overtime, and include that!.. Then you're adding in another decorative cake which is another 30 hours... AND materials which is going to run you in the area of at least $200 for both cakes by the time all is said and done. Now... Smile and get started on those dummy cakes! 
Let us know how you use that extra cha-ching you EARNED..
I've been thinking, and this is really not about cake at all. It's a centerpiece, yes, but not edible, and there are other cakes. You could really use any supplies you wanted, not just those normally used in cakes. These are two original sculptures, remakes of cakes yes, but sculptures. What is she going to do with them afterwards? Charge her fairly, ie the right price for two original custom-ordered pieces of art, and make sure she knows what she is getting in those terms. She should be happy to pay top dollar for those. And, it really makes no difference how many a sculpture done in cake would serve. Do we look at the Statue of Liberty and price it in servings?
If she's not planning on saving the ships afterwards, perhaps you can get them returned. Tell her you will display them (do you have a shop??) with a plaque that these were "Custom Creations designed by Renelle for Little Miss Spendy." She would get to have her princess's sculptures displayed in a public setting, and you would have outrageously wonderful dummy cakes to show off. With this kind of woman, chances are her friends will come to show their friends, and you can move into the high-class, top-dollar clientelle and be paid generously for your time from here on out.
Makes me wonder what the heck this mom will do for this child's sixteenth birthday. Maybe rent out the closest Hilton Hotel? I'm 57 and have no diamond earrings. 
Wonder if she would like to adopt me before my birthday in July. 
Diane
Makes me wonder what the heck this mom will do for this child's sixteenth birthday. Maybe rent out the closest Hilton Hotel? I'm 57 and have no diamond earrings.
Wonder if she would like to adopt me before my birthday in July. Diane
You really want to be adopted by her?
My dd has a friend who's mother is a self-proclaimed spoiled brat. She goes on and on about how her parents never did her any favors by spoiling her, because she's still having a hard time as an adult (in her 30's now). Got pregnant young, as she didn't have any rules. Has a beautiful house, which is a total garbage dump inside as she never learned how to clean up after herself and she has 4 kids. I'd be inclined to pity this child when she grows up, unless she marries a man with money who will continue to spoil her. Learning to live in the real world is difficult enough for most people, but can be a major problem for those who never knew it existed in the first place.
By all means, charge what you would normally charge for a "Colette Peters" cake. I have the "Cakes to Dream On" book and have looked at the cake she wants you to make. All I can say is, WOW and post pictures! It'll be lots of work but lots of fun.
Zmama, I already know how to clean house and cook, I'm too old and not equipped to get pregnant, and I'm about sick of the real world anyway.
All joking aside, this poor little girl will have a rough time down the road. You can have money and spoil your kids and still teach them values. This woman seems too far over the top to teach anyone anything. I'm really glad I am not having to deal with her.
Diane
Speaking of Collette Peters, she is on the Food Network now with Duff and others in a cake challenge. Don't know if it is on in your neck of the woods or not. Sounds like it will be interesting.
diane
Have you thought of this....
These people read magazines also. She knows what Colete Peters would charge for her cakes by now. Not hard to find out since they print it in the same magazine.
She gives you the picture,says this is the cake she wants, you make the dummys, and she sits back and lets people think it is a C.P. cake since it looks like it, at a slim penny of the price she would have paid to C.P.
This really happens in the real world.
So yes, it is a work of art. You should bill accordingly.
I would definetly charge for your time and artistic talant. I am with everyone else. "Don't short change yourself" I liked the idea of getting them back and displaying them.
I am a cake decorator for Sam's Club and I don't get to do the fancy cakes any longer. I sure miss it and where I live there isn't call for them. People here just want cheap, fast, but pretty cakes. I have done some wedding cakes at home and people say I charge to much but at the stores they are a lot more expensive.
I do feel for the little girl. Life is rough and she will have it rougher.
Kandi
Good grief!! I've run across some doozies in my time, but I think she takes the cake! (No pun intended...
) Upon reflection, I think only she would outdo Mrs. "I want a 6 foot wedding cake for FREE" who I had to deal with last year. 
As far as dummies go, I charge the same as a regular cake because it costs me just as much time and energy to decorate styrofoam as it does sugar and flour. 
And remember, Colette's cakes START at $600...
Okay. I googled the big cake and I seriously think 1000.00.
And I am a cheapskate. That cake is outrageous.!
Here is a link to the cake...
http://www.colettescakes.com/imgs_cb_dream/caprice_de_jacques2size.jpg
[quote="7yyrt"]Here is a link to the cake...
http://www.colettescakes.com/imgs_cb_dream/caprice_de_jacques2size.jpg[/
quote]
Just looked at the cake. That is a beautiful cake but quite wasted on a 3 yr. old child, I would think. 
Diane
Here is a link to the cake...
http://www.colettescakes.com/imgs_cb_dream/caprice_de_jacques2size.jpg[/
quote]
Just looked at the cake. That is a beautiful cake but quite wasted on a 3 yr. old child, I would think.
Diane
it's not about the child...
it's about the mom showing off to her social circle.
a.k.a >> ostentatious living
Just looked at the cake -- cannot believe this woman! That for a 3 year old!!!
THAT CAKE IS WORTH AT LEAST $1000 in my opinion. If it were for a wedding, that's the least it would be.
THat's a ton of work, but everyone's right, it should be fun. THe sad part is that the little girl will take 1/2 a glance at it and move right on. It's not even "little girl" enough to capture her interest for very long.
I say again, Grrr 
.
Sarah
Yeah Doug, that's the really sad part of it all.
Diane
Still, the mother must have a bunch of fancy pant friends who will be so impressed they will slam you with orders.
Another reason to make the price worthy of the cake.
The first thing I thought, I wouldn't have to look for ways to cut back.
I am always looking for ways for my clients to save by cutting here or there. But, with her you have the freedom to be artistic because you don't have to worry about the cost.
You want to be fair just like you would anyone else, but you need to get a fair price for all the work you are going to have to do.
Yep, a thousand dollars minimum. I'm sure this lady is the type who expects to pay plenty. There is a certain enjoyment in that. And it probably will put you in a position to sell more cakes like that as well, for very similar prices. Take full advantage of this opportunity, I say.
What fun this will be for you. To be able to make that cake, and get paid for it, too! I envy you, in a good way!
I must say that your pirate ship cake is absolutely outstanding!!!!! You did an incredible job on it!!!!!
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