Why do people take orders when they don't know how to do what is needed for it? I don't sell, so everything for me is experiment. But, don't you lose all profit from the orders when it takes so much extra time with the new stuff? Plus, how do you know what to charge when you have no idea what you will need or how long it will take? Why not try techniques for practice first before taking them on as an order? I'm confused.
Another question - why do people who have not done a technique give advice on it? For others who haven't that see this as a font of knowledge, I would think it's bad practice, like the blind leading the blind. Personally, I believe we ALL have something to share, but would rather get advice from someone who has been there, so I'm not told the wrong thing. Links to good info is GREAT, but bad/untested info can hurt - through feelings, frustration, and finances.
Maybe I'm just grumpy, but I don't understand.
Sometimes (though rarely) I'll take an order for something I've never done before. I figure either I'll muddle through it, gain a customer and look ok, or----look like a fool and lose my buns. Thankfully, the latter has never happened.
I don't give prices until I've put everything through the matrix. Period. I learned a big lesson on the "ball park" figure syndrome.
Now---when people give advice on something they know nothing about--then they just look stupid. It happens here quite often. I say nothing more about "who." But I'm agreeing with you, Z--I can't STAND that. It's like--ok, you may KNOW what to say--but that doesn't make me feel any better that you haven't EXPERIENCED this...or whatever!
Just like on the Valentine's basket things; I know how to PREPARE everything to go in them, I just didn't know WHAT to put in them! (Brain farts, I reckon!) But if Joe Blow were to come up and say, "Hey Knox--tell me how to fix that cheesecake for the basket!" I could very well tell Joe HOW.
I might need some help, however---on the WHAT part of it! (At least tonight!) 
--Knox--
As her name says it, it's RisqueBusiness.
are you all talking about ME giving advice on something I don't know about???
I'm sorry to burst all your bubbles but after almost 30 years in the business there isnt' much I haven't done...
the ONLY thing that I can stretch myself with is new designs , like the shoe or pocket book cakes..
and I think that my "KNOWLEDGE, background, creativity and experience helps me fill in the blanks..."
I'm not a beginner by ANY means..
I have been a GUEST PASTRY INSTRUCTOR at CULINARY SCHOOL, a GUEST DEMOSTRATOR and my skills got me invited to demonstrate my chocolate skills in FRANCE after they brought the Chocolate show to NYC..
Design doesn't work if you don't know the foundations...the "skeleton" of your cake is the glue that holds your designs together and if you don't know how...it doesn't matter how "artistic" you are when your cake is falling apart..
N, I'd like to know what advice have I ever given you on something that I have never tried? or for that matter ANYONE else??
I am CERTIFIED, have my Culinary degree and almost 30 years under my belt...I may not "KNOW IT ALL" but I know enough and I'm always learning.
Sugar is a living, breathing art form that is always evolving.
When I opened my shop there wasn't anyplace where one could go and get a "pretty" naughty cake..they were pretty gruesom, and some still are. I had to teach myself some carving techniques to make my cakes not only realistic but also "pretty". and my techniques change from one cake to another...
and if someone asks me a question about something I posted, well...it sure helps when I get a DIRECT question or link to the post so I can see what the heck it is they are refering to when they ask..
for example..a question on stencils...well..what kind of stencils? The kinds that you can use for walls, the kind you purchase for cakes or the kind that you make yourself?? I won't know what to answer if the person posting the question is not specific...
So, if you all think that I don't know what I'm talking about..then maybe it's time that I just shut the heck up and make a lot of people happy!!
I'm sure!! 
If I took an order for something I had never done I would be the one to suffer the most, because it would make my stress level go over the top. And, I have had people who know I do cakes tell a friend to call me because I can do just what they want. Then the person calls and they want some outlandish design that I am not comfortable doing and they plead with me "Oh Puleeze, I know you can do it" Oh Yeah? Well I don't know that I can do it so I am saying no, sorry.
On giving advise, I feel the same way. Someone asked me about Disco and Pixie luster dusts, I have not used them and would only be guessing on how they work, if they are non toxic, etc. I preferred to pass that on to someone who has actually used those dusts. And If I have seen something done but not tried it myself I will say that, then I may say "This is how I think they did it, but I am not certain."
Not quite sure what prompted this thread, but if it is a specific incident or particular topic that did...then maybe it needs to be dealt with specifically instead of a "Why do people" thread.
As for me...I don't give advice on things I don't have experience doing, and if I did undersell my cakes and underestimate my time and cost of a cake I did sell, the only person that will hurt is me.
Also...what's with comment about RisqueBusiness? Things like that are what cause trouble.
To RisqueBusiness...You are trouble. 
Just Kidding. I love reading your comments and think you do have valuable information to share. Just wanted to say that to you.
Happy New Year to All
angie
I think its ok to give direction on something you havent done but have heard that it works well...for example, when Melvira came out with the roller technique for smoothing, I saw lots and lots of positive comments on it, but it took me awhile to go out and buy a roller (and even longer to figure out to do it over parchment paper so that I knew I was being food safe friendly)....but I knew of the basic technique though reading other testimonials....if I saw someone ask about it, I would tell them the gist of it even though I hadnt tried it yet myself (now I use it all the time--over parchment paper that is).....I don't really see any harm in that....I guess with anything taking advice over the internet from people you do not know is a gamble.....
I remember cakesbyjess doing a wedding cake with fondant swags, and she had never done them before.....and some people were giving her grief for never having tried them before the wedding....however, she pulled it off beautifully! Some people (like CakesbyJess and many many others) have enough knowledge and experience that they CAN do new stuff without practicing....they are just THAT good!
First of all, I recognize all your names and respect your forum entries and I believe most of you have left very nice comments for me when I've entered a cake in the galleries.
You all have more experience than I do but I'm getting there 
How do you get orders from people that aren't friends or family? I've been decorating cakes since April '06 and have taken them to work (hospital), the dentist office, the local High School and the local grocery store. I have done some (probably 3-4) that were actual "orders", but they were from friends that refused not to pay me.
How long did you have to wait until your phone actually rang and it was a "stranger" that had seen one of your cakes and wanted to order one?
Thanks! Guess I'm just getting a bit frustrated on what else I could do?
RisqueBusiness, I don't know what prompted this thread either, but I didn't get the impression they were singling you out per se, just using your screen name to make a point. Of course I could be wrong (I often am, but if you quote me on that I'll deny it...
) I have a great deal of respect for your posts and input personally and I wanted to state that here openly. You rock!!
I think it was a play on words......this is a Risky Business, ergo.......RisqueBusiness.
I think that is what was meant anyway. Everyone knows you rock, RB.
RisqueBusiness, I don't know what prompted this thread either, but I didn't get the impression they were singling you out per se, just using your screen name to make a point. Of course I could be wrong (I often am, but if you quote me on that I'll deny it...
) I have a great deal of respect for your posts and input personally and I wanted to state that here openly. You rock!!
Maybe this is true and it wasn't intentional to single someone out, but I have to say that when someone posts " As her name says it, it's RisqueBusiness." and only posts that with no other comment, I take that as singling someone out. And on top of that insulting her experience and knowledge. As in many previous posts here have stated, we all need to be aware of how things are percieved when we are posting. Posting like this only leads to hurt feelings and people getting angry. I don't want to open a can of worms here, but quite franlky have to say that I am really getting tired of the mean sprited things that have been said on this site lately and just hope that we can get back to being a help to each other and make this an enjoyable place to be.
.....................
well....I guess you're only as BIG as the things that annoy you!
risquebusiness,,,i think MAYBE? that what that poster was referring to (i would like to think so anyway) was that you are the symbol of one doing things that are not common, that arent really done often or seen...that you are willing to take the risk to do something cool or unique, because that is what the customer wants - and doing a good job at it. i myself am not a fan of "naughty" cakes...but i would like to think that perhaps it was a compliment just misunderstood?
I think its ok to give direction on something you havent done but have heard that it works well...for example, when Melvira came out with the roller technique for smoothing, I saw lots and lots of positive comments on it, but it took me awhile to go out and buy a roller (and even longer to figure out to do it over parchment paper so that I knew I was being food safe friendly)....but I knew of the basic technique though reading other testimonials....if I saw someone ask about it, I would tell them the gist of it even though I hadnt tried it yet myself (now I use it all the time--over parchment paper that is).....I don't really see any harm in that....I guess with anything taking advice over the internet from people you do not know is a gamble.....
I remember cakesbyjess doing a wedding cake with fondant swags, and she had never done them before.....and some people were giving her grief for never having tried them before the wedding....however, she pulled it off beautifully! Some people (like CakesbyJess and many many others) have enough knowledge and experience that they CAN do new stuff without practicing....they are just THAT good!
DITTO
RB-take heart girl! We know you rock!
We have to keep in mind that some of our members are young and Lord knows when I was young not everything that came out of my mouth came out the right way. I'm sure it was a play on words that doing something you've never done is risky business. Just came out like an open mouth, insert foot type statement!
I find it very interesting that those who made the initial statements are curiously quiet (after Pandora's box has been opened...) 
Risque - I don't think she meant you, but that your screen name fits - it's a risky biz practice to take those orders because they can flop.
Shirley - I admire that you can say "NO" where most people have trouble with it.
"Oh Puleeze, I know you can do it" Oh Yeah? Well I don't know that I can do it so I am saying no, sorry.
THAT is a good practice, something for us to work towards.
Risque - I don't think she meant you, but that your screen name fits - it's a risky biz practice to take those orders because they can flop.
does this mean we should pull out the cake viagra for "those"?
*chuckles*... where can I find some of that cake viagra???
Why do people take orders when they don't know how to do what is needed for it? I don't sell, so everything for me is experiment. But, don't you lose all profit from the orders when it takes so much extra time with the new stuff? Plus, how do you know what to charge when you have no idea what you will need or how long it will take? Why not try techniques for practice first before taking them on as an order? I'm confused.
I take orders for things I've never done on occasion. And, yes it may mean that I don't make much or any profit on that order. But then I usually get to try a technique that I've been wanting to try anyway. I have enough orders that I don't get that much opportunity to just experiment, so I look at it as getting paid to experiment. So far it has never been a problem, I can usually do anything I set my mind to. I just make sure I have plenty of time to do it, no rush orders. In fact if it is new to me I make sure I have time to redo if necessary, thankfully I've never had to redo a whole cake/project. Thought there have been time when I've had to redo a particular element of a project.
Tammy
Well, when taking free advice there is always the possibility that one gets what one pays for.
I've seen very good advice on here, and I've seen horrible advice. Something that is perfect advice for one person could be exactly wrong for someone else in the same circumstances. The good news is we are all smart grown ups who can take the information and put it with OTHER information we find, as well as our own trials and errors, to come up with what works for us. Aren't we?
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 5:42 pm Post subject:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I find it very interesting that those who made the initial statements are curiously quiet (after Pandora's box has been opened...)
Ummmm....I was "quiet" because I was divin' into a big ol' bowl of black eyed peas and cornbread! (And because the laptop was shut.)
I don't really know WHAT to say, except for Risque's always been a big help to me with questions & such. She does great work and has great amounts of knowledge to pass on, Blah...blah...blah, and I still think that mentioning her name in the first place out of context with the thread was what opened up the can of worms. It may have not been intended the way that it "sounded" (or read). Let it never be said that Risque didn't speak her peace, though. Good for her!
I wish we could ALL speak our peace around here without being brandished by the goodie wagon--or locked up by whoever. 
But I don't own the site, and I don't make the rules. Whatever.
*sashays away and turns to wait while the thread gets smacked down*
--Knox--
--Knox--
Risque - I don't think she meant you, but that your screen name fits - it's a risky biz practice to take those orders because they can flop.
does this mean we should pull out the cake viagra for "those"?
Doug - wrong forum man! 
*gently shakes head remembering cake Viagra posts*
As her name says it, it's RisqueBusiness.
are you all talking about ME giving advice on something I don't know about???
N, I'd like to know what advice have I ever given you on something that I have never tried? or for that matter ANYONE else??
I am CERTIFIED, have my Culinary degree and almost 30 years under my belt...I may not "KNOW IT ALL" but I know enough and I'm always learning.
So, if you all think that I don't know what I'm talking about..then maybe it's time that I just shut the heck up and make a lot of people happy!!
I'm sure!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. You took it completely the wrong way. The OP asked why people try things they haven't done before.
It's "risky business". You take risks and you learn from having taken them. That's why I used your name. Are we "good"?
ok, WHY must these threads even begin? WHY does everyone care so much about what everyone else does? thats what i want to know. the original poster may have been having a bad day and needed to vent and we all understand that. but, IMO, it just sounded like the purpose was to pick a fight. WHY does anyone else care if someone is taking on a cake order for something they have never tried? if it doesn't affect you or your business, then WHY let it get to you? i don't get it.
also, i think that nglez was just using risquebusiness' screen name to make a point because of the play on words. it probably wasn't as effective as he thought it was going to be and maybe we all have to think before we hit the 'submit' button to post.
we all know that risquebusiness is ALWAYS willing to help and comes to us with much knowledge. we appreciate it
ok. just my 2 cents. moving on...
Why do people take orders when they don't know how to do what is needed for it? I don't sell, so everything for me is experiment. But, don't you lose all profit from the orders when it takes so much extra time with the new stuff? Plus, how do you know what to charge when you have no idea what you will need or how long it will take? Why not try techniques for practice first before taking them on as an order? I'm confused.
I take orders for things I've never done on occasion. And, yes it may mean that I don't make much or any profit on that order. But then I usually get to try a technique that I've been wanting to try anyway. I have enough orders that I don't get that much opportunity to just experiment, so I look at it as getting paid to experiment. So far it has never been a problem, I can usually do anything I set my mind to. I just make sure I have plenty of time to do it, no rush orders. In fact if it is new to me I make sure I have time to redo if necessary, thankfully I've never had to redo a whole cake/project. Thought there have been time when I've had to redo a particular element of a project.
Tammy
Every single cake I do I give myself the challenge of doing something I have never done before on or with that cake. Does that mean I'm putting the final product in jeopardy? I don't think so, but then I know my limitations and what I think I'm capable of and on occasion what I'm not capable of. It's my way of stretching my horizons and reaching for the stars -- I never know if I can do it until I try. It helps keep my creative juices flowing and it's all part of the journey. On my calla lily cake I posted, the only thing the woman told me was "I like Fall colors and I want a chocolate cake. You can do whatever you want." That was my very first attempt at gumpaste flowers and to date it's my personal favorite cake in my whole collection. It would have been a long time before I dove in to a new medium if I hadn't had some incentive to try. But then again, this is what works for me. If the final product isn't up to my particular standards, then I bite the bullet and give them a cake that is. Does that help answer your question?
also, i think that nglez was just using risquebusiness' screen name to make a point because of the play on words. it probably wasn't as effective as he thought it was going to be and maybe we all have to think before we hit the 'submit' button to post.
we all know that risquebusiness is ALWAYS willing to help and comes to us with much knowledge. we appreciate it
ok. just my 2 cents. moving on...
Agreed.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%