Hey all!! Have any of you ever worked at a grocery store bakery and still have your own cake business? I was just offered a position at a store around the corner from my home part time. I will be starting the culinary arts program (baking and pastry is my major) in a week and can only do part time. I've been in the business since 2003 and definitely love cake and pastry, so they had sign up that they needed 3 part time decorators and I applied, interviewed, and got a call that they want me to come in and do a cake test and hire me immediately after. What in the world is a cake test? Anyhow,  just wanted to know if any of you have done both.  I'm guessing it will at least improve my speed! Lol

yes i have and it means working two jobs at the same time -- because most everybody wants to celebrate on the weekend -- really really mind blowing health busting difficult --

a cake test is anything from icing and/or decorating a regular cake to icing a chocolate cake with stiff white icing (try to keep the crumbs off the finished product) to doing a sculpture on the spot without a heads up nor a picture nor instruction as to what the client expects -- hahahaha --

hope you get the easy one 

and please post about your experience would love to know how it goes with tons of all the best to you

I sure will K8memphis!  Thanks so much!

You need to be upfront w/whoever wants to hire you that you have your own decorating business.  Most places will not hire you unless you sign a contract that you will NOT work in the same business away from them.  It all depends on the owners of the store.

I got the job!!! Woo hoo!  I've taken a bit of a hiatus on the business side because I'm going to culinary school starting Monday with my major being baking and pastry of course.  LOL! Plus, We just moved to a new city on military orders not too long ago,and I'm still recovering from a car accident that a driver under the influence rear ended me on. I figure a part time position and FT school is more than enough right now. Super excited! 

yay! so happy for you -- wow your school school sounds like a blast -- congratulations 

i just have to add -- resist resist resist the idea of taking even one order -- it is pure misery to bake/decorate at home when you are already doing it at work -- so i was trying to just be quiet but seriously -- already prepare yourself to say NO 

and best to you with the new job and pastry school -- "oh the places you'll go"

Thank you K8memphis! My hands will be so full with all my full time courses, school, kids, and my husband who is also in school AND the military that I don't think I will have  a problem turning them down! LOL! I will still be working on some business things  at home but not doing any orders right now. More like preparing for the future.  I think it would stress me terribly to run the business. Thank you a bunch for all your encouragement and wisdom! Im still going to post pics of my work and continue to build up my portfolio.