Arghhhhhh!!! Arghhhhhh!!!!
Decorating By AgentCakeBaker Updated 26 Jun 2006 , 10:32pm by CakesBySandy
OK, my dry spell is still here. It is really becoming depressing. I want to make cakes but don't really want to use up all of my ingredients and not make a profit from it. I've only had two paid cake orders in the last three months. Often times I'm making a cake just to practice or donating cakes to functions or to a friends party. My recent pregnant belly cake was done on my behalf for my sorority sister. Each time I do free cakes from functions I always get lots of compliments on the taste and the design. People ask for my cards and say they know people who would be interested in buying cakes from me but no one really calls.
Then my sorority sister tells me that her co-worker is the event planner for her church and would like to do business with me. So I email the event planner and haven't heard anything from her. This was mentioned over 3 weeks ago.
It is really heartbraking to hear people say their interested and will buy or recommend me but nothing happens. Last week I felt so bad about not getting any cake orders that I considered selling my cake pans and supplies on ebay. Why is it so hard to get orders? I've given away so many free cakes that I can't afford to give away any more. This is very frustrating!!!!! This website is the only thing that keeps me motivated right now. So thanks to all the cake bakers on this site.
Thanks for letting me vent!
I'm sorry to hear that you're having a dry spell! I know that happens to all of us from time to time, and I wish I had some good advice for you.
I do cakes only as a hobby and it seems like I'll go for a couple of months with nothing, then I'll have 4 relatives ask me to do a cake on the same weekend!
Hang in there -- the orders will come!
Is this a hobby or are you a legal business? Some advertizing tricks may help if your legal.
If you're a legal biz, you could pick up the phone and call the restaurants in your area to see if they do desserts in house or if they order from "outside". Most of the mid to upscale restaurants around here do order from outside sources--I was so surprised.
But if you are not, maybe you could consider a do-it-yourself website. I did one thru freewebs.com. Then forward your site to all of your friends, asking them to forward to their friends...and word will be out! As long as you're presenting it as a hobby, you're not breaking any laws. Just include your e-mail address on the site. Your cakes are beautiful!
I'm not legal yet. I do this as a part time gig b/c I currently work fulltime. In GA, you have to have a separate kitchen and that's not in my budget just yet. I do have a website from freewebs.com. Everytime I update it with some of my projects, I send it out to my family, friend, and new and old customers. I ask them to forward this on to anyone else that may be interested. I've done donated cakes to parties, picnics and children's shelters but I get no paid orders. I've even had potential clients cancel a cake order the week of the party.
I guess I can't do anything but wait it out and hope to get more orders very soon.
Elvis, thanks for the comment on my cakes.
Even if you aren't legal, make your cake "donations" count! Make a thank you basket of little goodies for your Vet, dentist, any service provider that has alot of women working there. Make them bite size so they are shared by alot of people quickly and with little mess. (cake balls. petit fours, decorated sugar cookies) For the most part it is women who place an order so direct your attention to them. Never fail they will ask if you do this for a living and that is when you step in and say well not really but I have for a few friends and family. Here is my little picture album in my purse...... The phone will ring!
Oops! I kind of missed the "www" button on your post. Well, don't go selling your pans! Everybody goes through dry spells--especially in the beginning! The cake decorating bug didn't bite you for nothing, right? All of these people that have been taking your cards, etc. will be calling you once a special occasion arises-- tell them to hurry up and have a baby or something!! :O)
Thanks guys for cheering me up. I knew I could count on my cake buddies here at cakecentral.
Thanks again!
Sometimes, when people know you will do a free cake, it doesn't give them any incentive to buy one from you. Maybe.....it's time to stop giving em away!!!!! Just a thought!
I know that feeling. I have a wedding cake this weekend, then not another til Sept. I'm thinking, after that..... NOTHING!!!!!
But Then I tell myself, slow down, I have my kids that need me, and my husband, house, other hobbies, and church responsibilities. I have the privelege of doing it at a slower pace.
Of course I have told myself sitting amidst the kitchen aftermath, that no, I can't do this anymore without payment. So I don't. And I don't have to get fat from all the cake scraps!
I know that the timing will be right for me. I know it will be for you too 
Maybe you can concentrate on something bigger...like a cake for a competition, or something.
Don't let people get you down.
Also keep in mind, people may love your cakes and may take your card, but when it comes time for them to actually need a cake, it may have slipped their mind.
How many times have you talked to someone that does something and you think well next time I need that I'll call them? Chances are when it comes time to need it your mind has already lost that information and replaced it with something else.
Don't be discouraged just yet!!! last year when I decided to finally start my business (after years of my friends pushing me to do it) I spent all summer without any orders, and when I say nothing it's nothing!!!! I was ready to give up..... and in August I get an order of 1000 cookies for a wedding, and then the bowling alley called me for a contract for them to buy the cakes for the birthday parties (they have at least 3/month during winter) and since then I only had a few weekends left.... and I got legal this spring so I can have more publicity, didn't see any changes in the orders just yet, but hey summer is here, maybe in August again.....
don't give up!!!! you'll see!!!!
Lorris
Thank you all for the inspiring words. I'll hang in there. Besides this is something I truly love to do. At least I know I will always do my daughter's cakes for all her special occasions.
Agent, I am in Ge too and I am not giving up. I didn't know Ga would allow you to be legal if you had a separate kitchen? Is that a statewide rule? I checked with my county about a year ago and they told me I had to bake in a commercial oven, no home baking.
Don't give up. I am an at home baker, not licensed, and I go for weeks without anything to do and then all of a sudden 3 people want a cake on the same day. You will get business, just give it time. I still do a few free cakes, but not too much. I figure if someone wants me to make them a cake, at this point, they need to pay for it. Keep your chin up, your cakes look great.
Cindy
Agent, I am in Ge too and I am not giving up. I didn't know Ga would allow you to be legal if you had a separate kitchen? Is that a statewide rule? I checked with my county about a year ago and they told me I had to bake in a commercial oven, no home baking.
That may have changed but I believe it was for Dekalb County. I'll have to check on it again. It's been a while since I checked. Anyway, I still need more orders to be successful with or without a license. 
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