I'd like to know thoughts on this topic! Have patience with my rant :)

I am terrified of sculpted cakes. I mean, not so much of the cakes themselves (I can be in a room with one), but more the process of making one. I am not so comfortable with the "chiseling away"; I prefer to build up, which is why I love making toppers out of RKT. And I love that I can be hands on with the RKT and not have to stress the constant back and forth from the fridge to my workspace. No worrying that the cake will fall apart! And serving sizes for a sculpted cake throws me off. How is THAT figured out?!

BUT this causes a problem when it comes to clients. For example, I have an order for a sculpted car cake. I've made plenty of sculpted cars out of RKT so I have the skills to make one, but this client wants cake. 

I understand why a she would want all cake: she figures its cheaper than a cake matching her serving size PLUS the cost of the "scupted" RKT topper, and at the end they can just cut into the cake and call it a day. 

I'm thinking about keeping the costs of the sculpted topper plus a simple tier lower than a sculpted cake. Even tho it takes longer to sculpt the RKT AND build the separate cake. 

Am I just creating more trouble for myself to avoid headaches with my end results? I would love to know your thoughts and preferences! Does anyone have scuptedacakeaphobia too?

I always get anxious with sculpted cakes, but I have to tell you the anticipatory anxiety is so much worse than actually starting to carve the cake.  I always feel this way and I always think Geesh why was I so worried.  Once you start carving you'll see it's really not a huge deal and is actually fun.  When you make a car just watch a few tutorials, have templates and just do it! I bet it will be great!

A

Thanks so much for your gentle and honest response! I have been researching all day, I think I need to put the knife to the cake now lol

AYes! You will see after the first two cuts your anxiety will decrease tremendously

AI hate sculptured cakes too. Even though it is what I have done most. I would much rather have a uniform shape that I know I can get perfect. And sculptured cakes NEVER turn out quite how I visualise them. I have never had a disappointed client even when I am disappointed with the end result. But it is in being self critical that I guess I achieve more than I think I am capable of.

I guess too that the market dictates and we supply ;) thankfully it is just cake and not brain surgery!

I love sculpted cakes, but to be honest, I always have a slight freak out moment before it all comes together. LOL I literally have to tell myself to chill until it's done. This fish looked like a submarine before I put the BC and fondant on it. I was hyperventilating because I didn't have time to bake another cake (baseball practice) and if I had to, I'd be up all night (homework due)... So you see how my freak outs work. Lol But it turned out okay and the customer LOVED it. She told me she'd be there at 5, after work and asked for a picture. I sent the picture at 11 am and she ended up leaving work at 11:15 to come get it because she was so excited. (Sorry to get off subject there, but I thought it was hilarious.)

But anyway, again, I learned to just breathe and ever judge a cake by it's insides. Lol