Okay, I have a question... Currently, I bake all cakes and make all the icing for a cake decorating business. The people in this business were also suppose to train me... they told me that once the business expands that they would like to make me a cake decorator for them... anyway, I have been doing this now for almost 6 months....
Now, here is where my question comes in.... an statewide known cake decorator (a friend of theirs) is in town and at their house to visit... I called to tell them that I had some cakes ready and that I am ready for the other cakes (that way I do not spend my weekend - cooking their cakes) and said that they do not have the time to get the ingredients to me today because their friend was in town and that is what they are doing with their day today is spending it with her. Why did they not call me and say - "Hey, I would like for you to meet so-and-so, could you come by". Instead, once they told me what they were doing with their time - they said that they would be by tonight to pick up the cakes - since I offered to bring them....
Was this rude to you? How would you feel? Am I over reacting?
I think it's definitely on the rude side and seems to me that they're not making you feel much like one of their fellow decorators but merely their sioux chef or baker or whatever!! I think I'd probably be a little offended and hurt as well. But at the same time some people just get so wrapped up in what they're doing that they don't always think about how it might make someone else feel.......in hind sight they'll probably say....."oh shoot...I wish I would have introduced you two!"
Since it's their friend...they still see as a friend, and not a statewide known cake decorator...know what I mean. They probably don't introduce you to all their friends, and this person to them is just that, a friend.
I'm sorry your feeling got hurt, but I'm sure they didn't mean to.
Hugs,
Denise
I would be hurt in a way. It would make you wonder why they are not mentioning this and excluding you, knowing that you are into cakes. 
Mention it to them! Could be it was an oversight, could be it was rude, you don't know just yet. Mention since you are up to date with your work and their friend is in town, you'd like to at least meet him/her and see what happens from there. Good luck!
Did you post something about this before? About them not training you yet?
I honestly think they're just spending a day with their friend.
Why mix business with pleasure on this note? I mean, if you'd been with them for 3 years or so....I'd be upset. I'm sure they have many cake friends.
I would tell them I 'd love to meet anyone concerned with cakes if it bothered me.
Good Luck!
Let us know what you do and what happens!
You are right I am not called over for every single one of their friends, but this one is different (in my opinion) because I called right in the middle of the visit... I was hoping that they would have said - "Hey, so-and-so is here and we would really like for ya'll to meet".
Then to top it off - I have to spend my weekend with my family baking their cakes because she was to busy visiting with her friend to bring them to me today - and they need their cakes by Sunday because they must be in the freezer for at least 24 hours and then taken out to thaw before they will even start decorating them.
I just feel like they have no intentions of making me anything in their business. Right now, I am getting no recongition when they are told how good their cakes taste. Everyone is thinking it is them doing ALL of the hard work. And the way that the lady said "We cannot bring you supplies today nor pick up cakes today - because our friend is here and "THAT" is what we are doing today." And when I offered to bring the cakes by when I get out - she then told me that "No, they will come by and pick them up tonight."
Okay, then she is being rude. Ask her if you can meet her friend--she is their friend and certainly they see her and have contact with her at other times, you do not. Ask this wench if you can meet the friend for one time by bringing the cakes over and it will be a brief visit. Keep us posted....
Wow! mmdd - great memory - I cannot believe out of all of these post - you remember mine. I do not remember what I wore yesterday.
Yes, they still have not taught me anything, but how to ice a cake. I was told to make cakes for my family and train myself.
So, anyway, I guess that I am not going to worry about it because I am still going to work for them because it is extra money that I need. I just wish that I would have been important enough in thier business to be ask to come by and meet this cake decorator.
Howdy neighbor! I live in Olive Branch- work in Cordova!
I think I would probably have gotten feelings hurt as well........I may would have said something like "Oh really? I didn't know so and so was in town. If you don't mind, I'll come by and pick up the supplies and drop off the cakes, b/c I would Love to meet so and so." "Besides, I really don't want to take away from the quality time with my family this weekend" But sometimes I tend to say things without thinking them through.......
I agree, it is probably just an oversight, b/c they are friends........
In my opinion, unless you were friends first before you started to work for them, then I see it this way...you are their employee...they were spending time with their friend. As for the training, you should speak up about not getting any yet after they said they would. They might think that you are content doing what you are doing and if you aren't asking for more training then why should they push you. If they want to spend time with their friend and not baking, then as the bosses/owners/employers, that is their right.
Sorry but that is how I see it.
It is defnitely their provacative to do whatever they so chose. But, that does not mean that it is nice. I am over it and this has shown me that I am not that important enough for them to say - 'Hey, this here is our new edition." But, oh well - thank you all for your time on my issues.
Wow! mmdd - great memory - I cannot believe out of all of these post - you remember mine. I do not remember what I wore yesterday.
Yes, they still have not taught me anything, but how to ice a cake. I was told to make cakes for my family and train myself.
So, anyway, I guess that I am not going to worry about it because I am still going to work for them because it is extra money that I need. I just wish that I would have been important enough in thier business to be ask to come by and meet this cake decorator.
Of coarse I remember! LOL! Seriously, though, it bothered me because I think a lot of people will take advantage of others and I just thought there was NO WAY I could ever do what you're doing. But, the money is a plus.
So.....make cakes for your family and train yourself? Wow! That doesn't sound like they're ever going to train you.
IMHO, I think you're more upset about not getting any recognition. Maybe???
I'm assuming they pay you well or else you'd have looked for another job by now.
Have you said anything to them yet about being trained as a decorator...because that IS what that told you, wasn't it? Maybe your cakes just taste SO GOOD they don't want to lose that!
I hope you get it all figured out and soon. Just think about the money if that keeps you going. Unfortunately, that's one thing that we can't seem to live without.
Good Luck to you!
BTW, you only have one cake in your photos, but it's a great cake!
It doesn't matter what any decorator can show you, if you want to do it...you will. ANd, the only way you can do it is practice, practice, practice!
Wilton shows some methods in the backs of their yearbooks, so maybe you could get you some dummies to practice on. Before you know it, you'll be doing great!
I agree with darandon. I think you are misinterpreting your relationship with these people.
If I were in their shoes and I had a friend coming to visit who was even the slightest bit a celebrity in their field I would never exploit that. For all you know, this decorator was coming down to get away from decorating for a while. I don't see how you can expect to have a right to meet someone. It would be like you having a single friend who had come to visit and a single employee calls your home during that time. Later on, you find out that your employee is mad at you for not introducing them to your single friend because they felt they had a right to meet your single friend to see if they would hit it off.
I am sorry for being so blunt, but I remember reading your last thread about not getting trained by the people you work for. You have said that it is not something you are going to quit doing, so I would say either talk to them about your concerns over not getting trained or accept your role in THEIR business by continuing to bake and ice cakes they sell under THEIR name. Use the money you earn to take a class on decorating and learn the same way that many of the other CC members have. I think you would be a lot happier and feel like you were making progress towards your goal this way.
I would ask about the training. and not be offended about not meeting the friend maybe they just think of them as a friend and not a cake decorator. and another note maybe the friend came to visit them to get away from the cake business for a while and did not want to talk about cakes.
Trying not to be rude but......real
Sounds like a story of entitlement.
As far as the training goes, chalk it up or speak up for yourself.
And the decorator friend, they are in NO way obligated to let you met their friends, decorator or not. Frankly it is an intrusion on the decorator, whos to say this person wants to be paraded around. If it were a store front bakery and this person came in and they just overlooked you and left with no intro, then I could agree.
This is a typical employee relationship. They are not looking at is as a friendship and I think thats what you are trying to see it a as. That is why you are taking everything personally.
Or am I wrong, were you all friends before and not any more, or has it always been this hands off.
You know, there are so many people in the world who tend to be thoughtless, not because they are trying to be rude, but that is just their personality. Look after #1 kind of a thing. If I were in your shoes, I would approach them, next time you see them at work and ask how their visit went and if they were able to learn anything new from this lady. Show a genuine interest without any feelings of disappointment. You know good and well that they talked shop. You can't be in this business and not be excited about it and trade secrets and tricks. So you might express how fortunate they are to have her as a friend and that if she is ever in town again, you would love to be a fly on the wall and just sit back and soak it all in. And if she wouldn't mind, maybe she could show you a trick or two because you are really serious about decorating. And then proceed from there to bring up the training and how excited you are about getting started and if they wouldn't mind going ahead and getting that ball rolling. Seems like you always catch more flies with honey, but I wouldn't just let it go, you were promised the training, and it sure would have been nice to meet that lady and ask a few questions. They will probably come back and say "Oh my gosh! I should have had you over, you would have loved getting to know her"?
Clarification... I should not have typed that they should have called me... because no, if they did not want to call me then that is their choice. However, I would have handled the situation differently, but each person is different. I would never want anyone to feel exploited. I am sorry that my thread gave a false inpression of the kind of person that I am.
If that had been me - "Hey, want you come by and meet so-and-so when you drop the cakes off. I would love for ya'll to meet". I would certainly have not have handled it like they did. But, I certainly do not feel like any time that there is someone at their house that they must call me.
Thank you for your time on my thread.
Seems to me that there are two things happening here and it got jumbled in one thread. I am pretty blunt and in your face, but oh well here is my two cents.
So why are you beating around the bush?
If they promised you training then ask about it and find out when it is going to happen. Get the date pinned down. Sometimes these things get prolonged because we are cheap, lazy or forgetful.
If you want to meet that famous decorator person then ask! "Hey John Doe, next time famous Jane Smith is in town, I would like to meet her!"
What is the worst that could happen? They could say no. Then you know where you stand and you move on.
Jeez, why do we make things harder for ourselves? Don't talk to us at CC about this, but talk to your employer..........
I would ask them. I'd be hurt but I'd also bring it up to see their side of the situation
Wow!!!! Thank you all for your responses. For the ones, that sent nice feedback - thank you very much. For those of you that did not have such nice feedback - I am sorry that my thread hit a nerve with you.
The people that I work for are nice people and excellent cake decorators. I was not upset and sending this thread out to get a pat on my back or to talk to CC instead of the cake decorators. Mine was just me venting.... like so many others do here.
I will talk to them about training somemore, but at the same time I will get practicing. I love baking and decorating cakes and hope to be a local celebrity cake decorator.
Again, thank you all for your time on my thread.
You know, you sound like a person who is nonconfrontal. Not that that is a bad thing to be, but don't feel bad about what didn't happen. You are, after all, their employee (are you an actual employee or are you a contracted employee?). However, if you feel slighted by not getting an introduction to this 'celebrity', please don't let it eat at you. Chances are that not many folks would even know who this person is!
As for not keeping thier promise to train you, why don't you take the bulls by the horn and look into taking classes on your own? That's what the majority, if not all of us, have ended up doing in one way or another. Show these people what you are willing to do to get where you want to be. Git-r-done! You may need these folks right now, but who's to say you'll need them in the future? Don't burn your bridges, just do what you have to do to become the local celebrity that you want to be!
dmaam,
Sorry, I know, I am in your face rude and seem pretty harsh 
But nothing ventured nothing gained.....good luck with the training 
Make sure you tell them you would like to meet that famous decorator next time she/he is in town also! Otherwise, they my never introduce you........ya gotta look out for #1 before anything else!
I don't think that mean that in the way your are thinking of. I'm sure this is a long time friend of theirs and sometimes people don't mix business with please if you know what I mean.
Alot of people tend to separate their personal life from their business. Now if you consider them (the people you make cakes for) friends too then it would be a different store.
Just my opinion!
I haven't read all the posts, so I don't know what others have written. So I apologize in advance if I repeat what's already been said. I wouldn't take offense to not being invited over. They don't have to introduce you to anyone that's their friend, they may just be that...friends, and so if they aren't discussing "cake" matter, then it doesn't concern business or you. As far as getting recognition with their business...was this discussed? Why are you doing this...meaning what are you wanting to gain? Experience or recognition? If you want, and you don't have the ingredients, then tell them you can't make the cakes. I don't think you can take both sides and say I love what I do and don't mind baking, etc but then just because they didn't invite you say I have to spend my weekend baking cakes.
I did read a couple posts that say you should invite yourself the next time decorator x comes to town. I don't think that's your place. She's their friend first, famous cake decorator second, and however you figured out she was coming to their house, doesn't mean you can invite yourself over. What were you going to do if you went...talk about decorating, show her your portfolio? Maybe she was on vacation and trying to get away from work?
JMO...Good luck with the business.
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