Am I Weird Or Do You Feel The Same Way?
Decorating By Lazy_Susan Updated 2 Jun 2007 , 5:48pm by StephW
You know... I think I have more fun decorating the cakes that I am giving away for free than I have making paid cakes. I know that probably sounds weird but I think it has to do with me being able to be as creative as I want to be. I've found that many times my customers want just plain ole minimally decorated cakes. They don't seem to want to be daring and go out on the edge for a fantastic cake! Is it just me or do y'all feel the same way?
Just curious,
Lazy_Susan
Can't say as I haven't been paid for a cake yet, but I think people just don't want to pay alot for something that is just going to be eaten. I made a cake the other day and everyone said, "It's too pretty to cut." I actually had to go get the knife and cut it so that someone would eat it. I guess some people just don't appreciate our time and love that goes into making cakes, and when they do appreciate it, they don't want to pay for it.
Can't say as I haven't been paid for a cake yet, but I think people just don't want to pay alot for something that is just going to be eaten. I made a cake the other day and everyone said, "It's too pretty to cut." I actually had to go get the knife and cut it so that someone would eat it. I guess some people just don't appreciate our time and love that goes into making cakes, and when they do appreciate it, they don't want to pay for it.
My customers don't mind paying my asking price. They tell me what they want before I tell them the price. I just find that they never usually ask for as much detail as I would put into a cake that I make without their in put.
I don't sell cakes, b/c I am not licensed (California), but I have done them for the cost of supplies for friends. I enjoy doing them more when it is just a gift, b/c like you said I can be creative...but also I don't have the panicky feeling of something going wrong and ruining someone's day!
I think people just don't want to pay alot for something that is just going to be eaten.
I have also felt like this, but they are willing to pay high dollars for steak, lobster or any other high dollar food item, so why not cake?
darkchocolate
YES SUSAN YOUR WEIRD!! Sorry I couldn't resist! 
no I actually find lately that I am growing resentful of paid cakes. I keep thinking I am doing all this work for $X.xx amount of money....you have to be kidding me!!
On the other hand, if I am giving away a cake it is usually for someone I really care about and I want to put my heart and soul into it.
Maybe I need to raise my prices.? 
YES SUSAN YOUR WEIRD!! Sorry I couldn't resist!
I agree! I agonized over the crazy clown and princess cake I just added to my pics. It was just what they wanted, they were thrilled, it was the biggest PIA!!!!!
I preferred doing the duffle bag or hockey player or a bucket of beer!!!! Those were all for parties I was attending. I find I can't seem to charge for my time the way I should on cakes like those. It would be nice to have that kind of clientel someday!
Like---doing it 'cause you want to---not 'cause you "have" to??? LOL ! Been there--done that!!
I totally agree Lazy_Susan. Clients often have very pedestrian tastes, bores me to tears. Especially when they want the 'Frankencake': "I want the side design like on this cake, but the flowers arranged like on this other cake ..." .
I only get really enthusiastic about cakes I do for competition or gratis for friends and family.
For some reason when it's a paid cake, I get all nervous and stressed out and get this huge migraine when I'm done. But when it's a freebie, I'm more relaxed and have so much fun doing it. Maybe it's the fact that you're being paid and have to do good that makes it so stressful. 
redred
Clients often have very pedestrian tastes
I think alot of this has to do with grocery store cakes. Most clients are not used to having a true custom made cake. They are used to going to the grocery store and picking one out of the case or the book. A couple of mine have discovered that I can do more/willing to try to do most anything so they are getting more specific about what they want.
I find that the "give away" cakes are less stress because I am just playing with my cake toys whereas a paid cake has to meet the expectations of the person ordering/the person they are ordering it for.
no not crazy! But my take on this is I LOVE it when my customer says I want a cake themed as such and such, you take the ball and run with it! It allows my creativity to flow and I don't feel like I am stuck doing exactly what a picture shows. I ask the main questions, how many do you need to feed and what is your top dollar and we go from there, it makes the best cake when I can come up with something from nothing but their simple idea I think 
You know... I think I have more fun decorating the cakes that I am giving away for free than I have making paid cakes. I know that probably sounds weird but I think it has to do with me being able to be as creative as I want to be. I've found that many times my customers want just plain ole minimally decorated cakes. They don't seem to want to be daring and go out on the edge for a fantastic cake! Is it just me or do y'all feel the same way?
Just curious,
Lazy_Susan
I was just feeling this way Thursady night. I had two cake orders and they were just so blah yet I still had that panicky feeling feeling of " what if I screw this up, they'll never order from me again!"
I can relate completely to what you are saying!
I haven't sold any... but I've given a few away. I notice that I like to really try different things with each cake.. that is what makes it fun. But my friends/family just give me creative freedom and they know I'll come up with something edible. Then when things don't go the way I planned, I come up with plan B. And no one is disappointed because they don't know what to expect anyhow. But if I was doing paid cakes - I would not be able to do that.
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