Okay, I have a little peeve here. I mean this in the kindest way and it won't apply to most of you because this site has some of the sweetest people online anywhere!
I guess I just feel a little sick when I read some very huffy posts from cake divas who have their fondant feathers ruffled. I can't believe how many posts criticize customers for asking for certain things. If it's unrealistic I understand, but the ones who are upset because the client has different tastes, I don't get that. When you make a cake for someone else, it is for someone else!! Of course they should get to pick their own colors, designs, medium, and if it is in our ability to make it (regardless of how tacky it may be) we should try to accomodate them. Some people like buttercream, some like fondant, some like horrible colors - though to that person they might be beautiful. We don't have to like it to put on a good face and do something for someone else.

Here's where it's different. If you are making the cake for your own purposes, be as big a cake diva as you want - there are certainly enough talented people here to claim diva status. I just don't like how we tend to focus on what WE want when we should be doing what THEY want. I guess it's in the spirit of doing for others with a good attitude, trying to make someone else's day better, and being forgiving when taste is bad .

I'm not pointing fingers because I know sometimes I will get a cake attitude. I just hope that others will try to pass on some good will with every cake they make. With extraordinary power comes great responsibility!!! You have the ability to make someone's confectionary dreams come true!!!

Well said, dydemus!
I also think we have to put lots of love and good energy into each cake even if we hate the colors/flowers/shape/whatever..

Cindy

I'm not guilty !! I am not in the cake business. I do cakes for free, that's why they never complain., and that's the best part. I guess it is different when one gets paid to make a cake based on their own choice.

I have had to do some weird cakes and color combinations but hey, they're paying for it so I give them what they want. I once did a baby shower cake with canary yellow frosting, sky blue rosettes, hot pink rosebuds and lime green vines/leaves. Bleeeechhhh!!! But that's what they wanted and they were more than delighted.

I make them whatever they ask for, no matter what I think of the style or colors. I may gently suggest some "other options" at the planning stage (based on what I like or what I'd love to make them, but everyone has different taste...). I can tell if they're really set on something, and if that's the case, I go with whatever it is.

I do my best work for all of them, no matter what, and if they're happy, I'm happy.

I certainly wouldnt refuse to do any cake (just see my strangest customer thread entry) but I would give advice if I felt that it looked bad. Just like a good friend trying on an outfit that wasnt flattering, I would be honest if it wasnt flattering.

I have to bring this one back up.....because of the other diva comments I see.....

the fondant peacock feathers!! ....Im sorry but ...and like you said there are many many helpful members....but these posts that go around and cant help but spew "Im better than you are"....I mean is there really a need for the overly pompous remarks.....especially in the I need help threads??

I happen to believe that customer service in this country has fallen drastically. Just look at how many companys are set up on auto-mated phone answering, by the time you push all the different numbers just to try and get to a real person, it just annoys me to no end. Worse yet the computer voice that asks you questions? Companys that think they don't have to provide good service because they already have alot of business, so whats one angry customer. I am a customer service oriented person. I work very hard to provide a service that is a dying art. I take pride in providing that over 100% effort. If I can't treat people right or provide what they want then I have no business being in business. Why complain when you have customers that want certain things?Isn't that why we are in business? I guess I feel like if you can't stand the heat get out of the fire. I don't care if a customer wants a purple cake with orange trim, if thats what they want, then whats the problem? The only thing that I might suggest if the deepness of the color, especially for a wedding, and maybe the guests having purple teeth or something. Sometimes people don't think of those things. But having said that, if they still want it, thats what they will get, it doesn't matter what I think, they are paying for the service, so they have the right to get what they want or go to someone that will give them their request. I guess I have said enough on this subject.

"fondant peacock feathers!!" Did I miss something? What's with the fondant peacock feathers?

I totally agree...Customers come first!

makes sense to me!

I agree!! my first wedding cake i thought what they asked for was a little well lets just say it was not my taste. but i did it and the bride loved it!! i was happy because she was happy. that is whats important.

Too cute! loving it....

it's just a matter of time when things hit the fan, and if they don't you had a great teacher.

That's my take on it..

I've been doing this for almost 30 years and stuff still happens!

I just had an unhappy customer...I tried something new to satisfy their order and they didn't like it..lol

I tried to make something classy and they wanted more cake porn.

Go figure, it was for nurses..lol

(sorry if my post is over the top..but, just proving that things can ALWAYS go wrong and we shouldn't "SPIT IN THE WIND"...coz we can get wet!!!)

When someone posts a question or a dilema that I feel that I can help with I only post what works for me, doesn't mean that it will work for everyone!!

Trial and error is always a great instructor!!

Sorry chaps - I'm a total cake diva - I didn't even know I was until I read this thread! I have clear ideas about what I will and won't make and am happy to recommend that a customer go to another more suitable decorator if they want something I don't fancy doing. It's my passion and I won't compromise it or do something I don't feel totally happy with. A pop singer wouldn't sing opera just because the public want it - if I'm not the best person to do a certain cake I won't do it. I quite enjoy being a cake diva!

Personally, I think the "diva attitude"
is a personal problem! Anybody who considers themselves a "diva" of anything, rather than being admired as one by others is not actually a diva at all!

It is kinda like the discussion of wearing the chef's hat and white coat if you are not a chef...calling yourself a diva or a pro does not necessarily make you one!. Janice

Well crap! I'm going to have to change my name.... I thought it was just being funny but if everyone thinks Diva = B&^ch then I guess I better come up with something else... I had no idea Diva was such a bad thing

emmascakes-by the looks of your photos, you can be a "diva" if you want to !!! Your work is unbelievable!

And CakeDiva73, I do think your name is cute. I personally don't think any name with 'diva' in it is automatically disparaging. I never thought that way about yours. BTW, isn't there a famous cake decorator whose name is the CakeDiva? Seems she's done pretty well with her name......

careful so as not to make this thread become "diva-ish" i'm pretty much in agreement that if someone is paying for a certain item they're in charge. it isn't "your" cake, it's the "bride's cake" or whoever. i made a yellow and red wedding cake, i though YIKES!, but actually it actually turned out cute, white background, with yellow ribbon and red scroll work. the groom always gave her yellow/red roses, so they wanted those colors and i put yellow roses dusted with red on the top. so, maybe what may not initally sound good to you, turns out nice. plus, they may have sentimental reasons for certain colors, etc. i think people need to remember it's hard to put emotion into typed words, so people may take things differently than how you meant them.

Okay, I stand somewhat corrected in my choice of words! Using the name "diva" does not necessarily mean you considered yourself a diva, it goes to attitude, and we have had a few who were full of the attitude and used that to make less of others' work. Sorry, wasn't thinking my reply all the way through, am just tired, like others, of the "divas" who are going around with their peacock feathers all ruffled. Janice

Yup! There is this famous cake decorator in LA ( I think ) and I had no idea when I came up with my name..... I sell vintage clothes on ebay so I am vintage diva over there and when I started doing cakes, well it just seemed to be the logical name

It wasn't until about 6 months ago that I realized there already was a cakediva and I was a copycat!!! So as I try to get licensed, I have a completely diva-free name for my business (fingers crossed). And as for my personality, very un-diva like... I mean, how the heck can you be a diva chasing after 4 kids, the dog, 3 cats and a tarantula? (Ok, I don't actually have to chase the tarantula....thank God!)