Okay I have a semi-regular customer...she enjoys finding homemade cakes online (or the kind that is posted for "regular moms" to do) for me to copy. Last time she did it, it was a design easy to improve upon and it actually turned out really cute.

This time she is ordering again, and sent me the photo in the mail and wants me to call her when I get it. Um....Its a round white iced cake with blue icing "waves" complete with Twinkie boats and some kind of sails (not sure yet, she sent the complete instructions. *sigh*) and Goldfish crackers in the waves. She also requested little people fishing.

Oh...the photo is from a Woman's Day mag so I can't find it online.

So...what do I do? I'm not trying to be proud or anything but geez....she wants to pay me to do something she could just do herself? I don't know if I want some kind of Sandra Lee cake going out of my house, ya know? But its not like she's a new customer, either. I'm just like appalled at the cake she wants me to do. Good grief she sent me the instructions!

What do I do? Humor her? I don't even know what to charge.

Heh. That's kind of funny and sweet and sad all at the same time.

I know exactly what you mean - I wouldn't want to do this either. You mentioned that the last time she did this, you improved on the design. Can you do the same this time? Give her the essence of what she wants without replicating the semi-homemade cake in the photo?

Is this the cake? http://www.womansday.com/Recipes/Ship-Ahoy-Cake

JUDI

Could you use the theme and bring it up to par? Let her know that you like the overall theme of the cake, but have some great ideas to improve on it?

i had a woman ask me to make her a baby shower cake a month or two ago. she sent me pics that she found online of I think marshmallow booties covered in buttercream stars and she had baby bottle candles and pacifier candles. After speaking with her for a little while, I sort of convinced her to just let me "do my thing". I made the booties out of gumpaste and a little sleeping baby too that matched the bedding. She was really happy and called me the next day to say how happy she was that I did it my way because it looked so much more professional. I might suggest the same to this woman, maybe tell her the twinkies are a nice touch but that you could make them out of gumpaste or whatever your intentions are and that it will look a little cleaner than the original, more professional since she is paying a hefty price. Just say, I'll make whatever you want of course, but might I suggest... blah blah blah.

Yeah....I'll probably need to do that!

You know that's funny, never understood these cute preppy moms when they do b-days they almost always bake their own cakes in a one of those glass rectangular pans and just frost the top and sprinkle add a candle and there's your cake or they just order a little cheap funky cake from Save Mart. Then you have you reg working mom who barely has any money for a party but wants it to be the best and she doesn't care what she spending just make it look beautiful, I'll just work harder next week. Hmmm So as long as she's willing to pay you for it just make it as weird as it looks, and if she complains then ask her why she didn't make it instead. Funny how people try to tell you how to make they're cake and give instructions but can't do it themselves. I hope she doesn't tell her guest when they ask her where she got, that she had it made and she could've done a better job.

call me a pessimist but is she passing your work off as hers?? That was my first thought, she wants you to do something she could do if she were so inclined so she can pass it off as hers with out having to deal with the mess.

Keep in mind that what looks simple and easy to most of us isnt simple and easy to do by someone else. I sometimes have the mindset when someone asks he "how did you do that" that "heck you could do it too if you tried." But in reality, they cant or dont hve the time, energy or desire to do it. So yes it looks easy to you and has twinkies and pretzel rods but that doestn mean that she can replicate it and have it turn out the same way.

I would say to her that you dont like to replicate other peoples work, your not a copy cat cake artist. Find out what she loves about this cake and design a cake with those elements. You can have a lot of the same elements without the cake looking the same.

Kim

Surely she must know what you're capable of. Your webite gallery is amazing!! Your cakes are true artwork! I don't get why she would ask you to make such a simple cake unless she thinks it will be cheaper. Charge her your regular going rate and see what happens.

Maybe you can refer her to the galleries here when she's searching for future cake ideas.

Or mention how to search Google for cakes to steer her away from the do it yourself cakes.

Or suggest next time that she give you the theme or idea she's looking for and then let you do your own thing. In this case, she could have said "Bobby loves fishing--I trust you to come up with a great cake idea for him!" Most of my friends do it this way.

I do think I"m going to switch it up some. I think she just likes the "mom made" it type look...that always seems to be what she comes up with. I don't think she passes it off as hers, but who knows. haha. And surely she knows it won't be cheaper....? We'll find out!

I think you should do the cake. I know some people have posted that business is slow so be happy that you at least have business, even if it isn't the most impressive cake.

I would definitely try to give the cake your own creative twist. Tell her what many people tell their clients, "you can give me a pic, but it won't be 100% the same."

Make the cake you do look better than the one in the pic she gave you!

Here's my 2 cents. I would do what she wanted. The last thing you need is for her to tell all her yuppie friends at her party that she asked you to do one thing and you did something different. That would give you a bad name.

I, in no way can decorate to your level, but I did have something similar happen to me last summer. A repeat customer wanted a cake for her daughters Sweet 16 b-day...and wanted nothing on it but candy. So, I debated over and over what to do because it just seemed too simple. So after 2 weeks of figuring out what to do, I did just as she asked. I make a cake covered with candy. SHe could have done it herself...but then again like someone else noted on here.....she was "wowed" with what I did. It was something she would have never thought to do herself but I whipped it out in 2 hours. I charged her $40 for the cake. I want her to come back for more.

So take that for what its worth. Hopefully, she will give her friends your name and if anything comes from it, you will get some more business. HTH.

I wouldn't want to send out a cake with twinkies on the top either....I agree with the idea of telling her you can capture that "essence" of the theme but in your own style and maybe more tailored to the birthday child or something. I would charge her at least $100 and not even feel bad about it.

Personally, I wouldn't like "degrading" my skills, on purpose, for anyone.

I'd be inclined to be very honest:

The cake is cute, but way below my skill levels. I can make it, but I'd rather not because others seeing it won't understand that I'm capable of much more advanced work. Also, just because it's much more basic that I normally do doesn't mean that it will be cheap. I still have to charge you buy the serving, so in all honesty, it will be an expensive cake that will look cheap.

You could then tell her that you're happy to take her money but that under no circumstances is she to tell anyone who made the cake OR you can tell her that because of this issue, you'd rather not make the cake.

Just my .02
Rae

I agree with Rae.. no way would I send out a cake with twinkies and gold fish on it. Now handmade gumapaste twinkie boats would be another thing.. .

I would draw up a sketch and see what she thinks and if she insists on twinkies I'd tell her she could easily make it herself.. maybe even provide the base cake and let her have at it.

I'm still smiling about the twinkie boats Sorry. I don't think I'd want to be caught purchasing twinkies, let alone decorating a cake with them. You are way too talented to make a cake at that level. People do talk. I'm amazed at how often people tell me they were at so and so's party and saw my cake, when I had no idea the people knew each other. Word does get around. But she's a good repeat customer. It is a tough situation -I think I would have to go with something similar to what Rae said. It's curious to me. I want to know more... what does she dress like? her home decor? Is everything 'homey'? Or is it just cakes? What about previous cake orders? You don't have to answer. I guess it's the therapist in me that wants to know more. Let us know what happens.
Deirdre

Hi kitagrl,

Just wondering about the infamous "twinkie cake", did you end up doing it?