What size pans would I need to feed 50 people? Round or square. Or is there a chart I could look at? TIA

heres hte wilton chart:

http://www.wilton.com/wedding/cakeinfo/cakedata.cfm

its the industry standard. this are technically "wedding" sizes, but i use them for everything. a 1x2x4 piece of cake is usually quite enough, unless its the only food item being served.

Round cakes are normally considered to be easier to frost or cover in fondant than squares.

What type of cake are you doing: tiered, sheet or huge single layer.

Here are all four Wilton cake preparation and servings charts for 2 & 3" deep pans:
(Gives batter requirements by pan size, as well as recommended baking temps. and times and so much more.)

http://www.wilton.com/cake/cakeprep/baking/times/index.cfm
(Sheet cakes are included in the party cake charts.)

A layered 11x15 sheet cake would yield 60 party (1-1/2x2x4) servings.

If you'd rather serve a one layer sheet cake in either 2x2" or 2x3" pieces:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-302303-.html
(indydebi does the math.)

A layered 12" square would yield 48 party servings.

A tiered 6" (12) 8" (20) 10" (2 (of layer cakes)would yield 60 party servings.

The WASC cake is a very good doctored mix recipe that has the reliability of a mix, but with a more homemade taste.

Here's the expanded flavors version:

http://tinyurl.com/2cu8s4

Using DH white cake mixes, a full recipe yields a tad over 14 cups of batter which is great for large sheet cakes or pans, or when making multiple smaller cakes.

You're only limited by your imagination and your customer's budget!

HTH

Ooh thank you so much. I use different variations of the WASC. I was just going to torte a round. Wasn't sure which pans to use to make sure there was enough. Still learning and friends at the bank I use keep requesting cakes. Take one in as a friendly gesture and they all want them =). Which is fine except I am still learning and trying to get everything looking like so many of the cakes on here that I stress that they aren't worth charging for.