I'm a little disappointed. I had a plan to work up a good enough cake portfolio of a few cakes (a small one, but sufficient to show I have what it takes) and call a local cake store that I admire that is looking for an "experienced cake decorator." I wanted to offer to help on Saturdays (I work full time during the week), for free if need be - they would benefit by having an extra pair of hands (I didn't care if I had to wash dishes) and I'd benefit by being in the environment and observing.
So I called yesterday and I explained this to the owner I spoke with and said that I realize they want a very experienced cake decorator but I was merely offering help for free...yada yada yada...I have a degree with an artistic background. I can sketch, paint, have many crafts and although I'm new to cake decorating I could be great... He wasn't interested. I even asked if I could just come in and show him a portfolio and take it from there. Not interested. He was nice about it, I have to admit. Said very matter of factly that they were looking for someone that was AMAZING, not even someone with just a culinary degree, but you have to have the sanitation training, experience, etc. and that they can't just hire anyone b/c of the liability.
Okay, fine. I understand. I was just a little discouraged right after the phone call b/c I had spefically waited weeks to call so I had some more cake photos under my belt. How is someone supposed to get experience though? There aren't that many shops in my area I can call! I decided that after the call and I had "calmed down" that I would not let this phone call discourage me, however...
I have decided I cannot afford to take out more loans for culinary school, I don't want to take the risk from illegally selling at home...AND I work full time. How do I pursue this cake decorating dream as a source of income while needing to be practical and make a living at the same time? I can't just quit my job and take out business loans. I have enough loans to pay back already as it is. Yet I KNOW I could be a success.
Help, suggestions, PLEASE?!
To build a portfolio, you only need photos. Go to www.dallas-foam.com and order some styrofoam cakes to decorate. take the pic, scrape it off and start over. (A tiny money saver .... you don't have to put flavoring in icing for dummies since no one is eating it.) When I was first starting, I told all of my relatives, "If you buy the stuff, I'll do the cake" (and the same offer when I started catering).
Here is the link from the Indiana Health Dept website with a list of companies that do food safety traing (this is required in the state of Indiana.... I saw a thread in which a CC'er said she "....wouldn't waste my money on a food safety course...!" because it's just common sense. While that is true, my state requires the class if you are going to handle food, so check state requirements.) Even if your state does not require it, I would still take the class. Evidently those in the food industry in your state consider it important.
http://www.in.gov/isdh/regsvcs/foodprot/foodhandler/certificationrule.htm
There are some non-Indiana ones listed. I recommend ServSafe. When I took the class, it was a one-day class with the test at the end. The materials are picked up ahead of time and if you do the ahead-of-time work, you will whiz the quiz!! For $125 (give or take), you've got the food safety thing covered.
If you were in Indiana, I'd welcome you to come in as an intern for the experience! You just haven't found the right place yet.
The bad part about our industry is it is highly regulated and the start up costs can be prohibitive. I mean, my husband can start a wood-working business in our garage and all he has to do is buy a table saw and some other small tools from Sears. When he set up his wood working hobby, we spent about $6,000 (he got the cream of the crop equipment). He didn't have to have a health dept approve his floor plan, he didn't have to install special equipment, like grease traps and overhead vents over the stove that cost me $8000 JUST for the vent.
Do not think because you can't do it TODAY, that it's not possible. I've spent over 20 years working toward the point where I finally signed the lease on my shop. 20 years may be an extreme, but as the song from Journey says, "Dont' stop ..... believe - ing."
For anyone wanting to get their financial situation in order, I highly recommend you visit www.daveramsey.com . Read the stories under the heading "We Did It" on the left hand side. (The "stupid tax" stories are great, too!) Dave takes a very common sense approach to getting debt free. It works. Trust me. "The key is debt free".
Your post is INVALUABLE! Thank you so much. I'm sure other readers on CC will appreciate it as well.
A family friend who's an entrepreneur recommended [url]startupnation.com [/url]as well.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
And "If your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme..."
You're right!
Hey Mikkel,
Don't give up yet! Go to other shops in your town. I know there has got to be a few!!! Keep practicing and taking pictures. Make a cake for your bf to take to work. One for your work. One for friends. Neighbors. More practice will make you AMAZING! Miss hearing from you!
Nicole
The other thing to look into is the Notter school of confectionary (something like that) they have short courses for all types of sugar work look up Ewald notter on google and you will find it. They are in orlando and he is regarded as one of the best sugar artists in the country.
Alligande:
Thank you for that suggestion. I actually have looked into the school - both to attend and for individual classes. Colette Peters has a class there this week - both beginner and advanced. Unfortunately by the time I found out they were sold out! It's alright, I couldn't have come up with the $700 in time anyway! I will look into future classes however.
I had no idea about Mr. Notter's reputation so thank you for noting that!!
Yes, Ewald Notter is amazing. The chef who is my instructor learned from him. We use his videos from time to time in class as well. I would love to take a class from him. Definitely keep checking on his school to see what's available.
BTW, you don't have to go to culinary school, especially if you only want to do cakes. I would save the money and try to take classes from the various experts instead of doing a culinary program. Like Nicholas Lodge for sugar flowers, etc.
Keep your chin up!
I had an experience like that lately. I called our two cake decorators in my area, and one was hiring, but I'm still in high school (doing it at home so I am available during the day) and I haven't taken any wilton classes or any other classes, and I'm really new at this. And like you I just wanted to get my hands dirty in this business, I wanted to see how someone else does it. Well the next day I went to his shop with my pictures and offered to even work for free. and he said he would have to talk to his accountant and see what he could afford, and for right now if he needed me he would call. Well during the summer for the past 7 years I do a non-profit summer camp for underprivelaged kids, and offered to take some days off of that to come out and work. and after I mentioned that the meeting was over, and never heard back from him again.
So I know what your feeling! Right now my plan is in 5 years start the process of opening my own bakery. (in 5 years I will have a ton of practice!!!)
I really like that idea of using cake dummies to build up your portfolio...
Good luck..and don't give up, make a plan and stick to it!!!
I just moved from Orlando. Don't order anything until you go to D&G. It is a cak/party supply store on 50 across from the mall. They are very small but have everything or they can order for you.
Ewald Notter is sooo nice. I was Colette Peters assistan in her advanced class. Take some of his classes. He has demos every now and then for @ $30. They are very helpful. He has other sugar artist come and do demos too. Check with his schedule and see what is coming up. Do you know where his school is? It is very small and if you blink you may miss it but it si well worth the trip even just to see some of his sugar work.
Did you check with Sprinkles or shoot I forgot the other one?
I just moved from Orlando. Don't order anything until you go to D&G. It is a cak/party supply store on 50 across from the mall. They are very small but have everything or they can order for you.
Ewald Notter is sooo nice. I was Colette Peters assistan in her advanced class. Take some of his classes. He has demos every now and then for @ $30. They are very helpful. He has other sugar artist come and do demos too. Check with his schedule and see what is coming up. Do you know where his school is? It is very small and if you blink you may miss it but it si well worth the trip even just to see some of his sugar work.
Did you check with Sprinkles or shoot I forgot the other one?
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