In case you missed the original version it might be helpful if you read it first. http://mikeelderonline.blogspot.com/2012/06/fake-it-til-you-make-it.html
An old friend once told me that "you got to fake it til you make it"... I wrote the original blog about the subject in response to a flood of facebook post about being "so busy and having so many cake orders" at the time, while everyone I know was struggling to figure out how to make a living off of doing cakes. Many truly talented and very well known cake artist are right this minute trying to figure out what it is they're doing wrong. The concept isn't crazy in terms of building an image of a strong and successful brand. Often as a budding business or artist, it's priority number one to appear successful. The idea being that looking like you're doing well and creating an image of prosperity, will eventually lead you to actual success. I guess to an extent the idea is sound and could justify a client being willing to separate themselves from their cash, and is perhaps even necessary to a degree. Why would a client feel justified in paying you a healthy sum, when they know they are the only job you got that week? We all fake it, it's the degree to which we do it to our peers that bothers me. (it's an interesting note that many fledgling cake decorators act to the exact opposite, believing that doing cake for free or at extremely low cost is a good choice for starting up! your work has to have value, and that's not how you add value to your work!)
Even though I seem to say it in every blog, and risking sounding like I'm stuck on the idea, making a living solely on cake is TOUGH! It never really donned on me before but, I got started because of this difficulty! My mother spent much of my youth doing cakes... For bakeries, for food brokers and finally for herself, when the work finally began to take it's toll on her body, she started to need help, and that is when I began to come up on weekends, or Friday nights to help out. At the time I was blissfully unaware of just how tough a career choice it was. For me as a mechanically minded guy, used to working on customers hot rods, the fun of doing something short term, creative and seemingly lucrative was a blast. I never considered it as a career, but eventually after being on several TV shows, and after our clients became used to the style of cakes I could do ( my mother and I had very different styles) we got so busy that the hot rod shop began to suffer and ultimately it was the cause of the demise of it. It's hard to keep a shop going when you're never there to answer the phone, or work on a customer's car. At first I really enjoyed the work and when busy, the money was good. But after making the move outside Kansas City, the business really fell off in spite of the fact that I deliver everything! The strain of the industry took it's toll on my relationship with my mother too. My success at times overshadowed hers and eventually added to the issues we already had with each other until finally it became too much.
I've been asked so many times how I find time for it all and the truth is I don't! I've even been approached before and asked for advice about survival and keeping your sanity while owning a cake shop, and all the while I've felt like I was the one loosing my mind! These days my day begins at 6 am... I climb from bed exhausted and throw on my work clothes, climb in my van and rush to KC where I work a second job painting houses, doing remodeling and general construction. In the past 2 years this is the first time I've felt like I could reliably earn a stable living. During lunch, and I hate to admit it, but sometimes on the drive to and from the city, I check my emails, call clients and try to keep from falling too far behind in my cake shop. Some days I make it home early enough to spend some time with the kids, but more often then I can stand these days, I'm at the bakery in the evenings and nights trying to keep a handle on my cakes. KC Cakefest is one of the things I care about most, and it turns out that too often I don't have the time or energy to really do it like it deserves to be done. Additionally there's what I now refer to as "The TV Thing"... For some time now I've been working on a project that should have been completed a year ago. All the while I've received and turned down offers to do several other TV shows, from Halloween wars to next great baker. Every time I get the call or emails I let myself get excited. It's been over a year since I did any national TV and like anyone would I worry that without it, my business will fail, or people will not want me to do events or teach classes. I worry so much about it that at times I have seriously considered doing the shows. My opinion of most of them has been pretty harsh, maybe to harsh, but the reality is that the producers of these shows are experts at faking it! I've watched a little of some of these shows and honestly I'm really let down by the level of quality shown, yet presented on TV to the general public as "The BEST OF THE BEST"... After being courted by so many different production companies about one lame knock off of another already existent show after another, I decided to do what felt right and try to produce a show that has some actual heart! I've been working to produce a show that shows the real true hard work your every day average American does day in and day out for nothing much more then the satisfaction of a well done job and a paycheck. Our world is created and run by these people, yet they never get the acknowledgment so deserved. We cake people are among them. We create something that seems simple; a cake... The truth is cakes are far more than that, they are the things that memories are made from, celebrations are held around and people share with one another. Every great celebration can be made greater with cake, and seldom do we ever make enough to be worth our while. We do it because we feel good about it, we do it because making someone smile is worth the effort and time spent, we do it because we love it. I'm proud of the concept and proud of whats been put together, even though the consensus with networks seems to be that it's not "unreal" enough! Essentially I have 4 jobs in addition to trying to spend enough time with the people I love and it's not an easy task. I'm not trying to get rich, just live a life I can be proud of and make some sort of mark, but it's getting harder every day, I don't feel like I'm doing a very good job.
So for once I actually have advice that may have value. Be careful about judging yourself and your own success based on what you hear on TV or read on Facebook! It's one thing to admire someone or follow them on facebook because you like their work, or they inspire you in some way, but it's a bad idea to judge yourself by their standard. (they may be faking it!) Admit your fears... For myself, I tried for a while to fake it, all the while afraid of failing, not being able to support my family, not being good enough, being forgotten and longing for something more. I still fear these things but admitting them and facing them is oddly a great source of strength for me. It's very easy to get caught up in all that I CAN'T do, all the things I struggle with and places I've failed, but I choose to believe that from pain comes strength! From failure comes knowledge and overcoming doubt is possible. I focus on doing what I can, work as hard as I can and believe in what I'm doing even when it seems I don't measure up. It's human nature to look at others and wonder why they seem to have it all while I struggle. It's even easier to inflict that self imposed punishment upon ourselves these days while a FB friend is posting "gee I have so many cakes this week and they're all awesome orders for celebrities and TV shows, what am I to do?" all the while trying to sound like they are complaining about having to do so much work! only to follow up later in the week with only one or 2 photos of the work. Competition is a fact of life. Many people will do what ever they can including these post to feel superior or gain respect, but in reality it paints a false picture of what is our normal life. Try a little humility and we may all be closer. I've said it before: We're all in this together... There is only one you and the impact you make on the world is yours and yours alone! Whether you choose to to make a grander one, or are happy to sit by and watch the world go on, you will still have made your mark.
thanks for letting me once again vent.
peace n love
mike
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
crazy biz and crazier clients! How to cope?
Have I ever mentioned just how difficult the cake decorating industry is? (oh wait only all the time..) I have friends in every aspect of the food biz, and that runs the range from chefs to bloggers to magazine editors and of them have it rough these days, but as cakers we've got all their troubles plus the additional perks we all know and love so much. this blog is a short comparison between cake design and the regular restaurant chef's world and then we'll move on to define the different types of clients we seem to get in our industry.
Restaurants are fickle just as cake is, but with different pitfals. Many chefs cater and frequently do large banquets that closely mirror our experiences, requiring advanced tastings, meetings with the client and stress about supply and cost versus profit. There is a big difference between how they sell and how we must sell. For one, they can give the client the finished product months before the actual event. This means that the client can try the "Tagliatelle with roasted chicken, tossed in a light olive oil with sun dried tomato, or the Apricot glazed salmon with saffron baby potatoes with soy, garlic and ginger splash"( yeah I'm hungry too) during the actual sampling. They can eat at a table decorated just as it will be the night of their event with the same wine, same lighting and same service staff they will expect when their guest arrive! As long as things go more or less to plan, there is little to worry about in terms of surprises. If the client orders 150 dinners, the chef will plan for that and the odd occurrence of an unplanned vegan guest showing up unannounced. The everyday operation is more trying, with an unknown number of guest ordering what they will. Trying to plan for the ups and downs of that sort of business is very tough, especially as today's economy tends to force more and more people to cut back!
Our business is similar, but also very different. (if that makes sense?) Our work is much more abstract. We can still meet clients and plan many things months in advance, offer several different choices of flavor, style, icings and fillings, and as far as our job goes that's the easy part. The client may die for your lemon cake with raspberry filling, and you can assure them that when they cut their cake that's what they'll get, but after that they're going almost entirely on your word and reputation, and there is no way they can really understand what it is that you're going to do for them.
I consider myself to be a "well known cake person" in my area... However I get calls all the time from people who have never heard of me, or have no clue what it is that I can do. Even the educated ones ( and by that I mean they've researched my work) can barely grasp what it is that I'm presenting to them in terms of a cake. I can't show up to the consult with their completed cake, I can't show them the exact size that 350 servings represents, though I do know bakers that stack dummies for clients (great idea!). I can't expect them to understand the value of my talent, nor the amount of work that goes into my craft. The time creating, and the hassle of delivering and setting up a cake is also outside their comprehension. So then how can I really truly convince them that the price is fair and that the cake will be beyond their greatest imagination? I'm not sure I can, and here in lies the problem for us all. People seem to more and more often expect more while paying less. They think that because walmart does a cake that honestly presents well ( and looks like the 100 done before it) on the cheap, that we as custom cake designers have to follow suit. They think that because so many decorators do and well, it's the way of things these days! I know a lot of bakers in our area that will work cheaper than walmart thinking that they are "competing" with them. They price their work so low that really there is no profit. I've heard so many times from budding businesses that "we're trying to build a clientele so we have to work cheap". The idea being that because they're cheap they'll get more cakes, thus more repeat customers, thus more and more referrals. This works but the reputation you've built is " she's really cheap" I don't know how else to put it other than quality cost! We all know it and when a client perceives your work as "cheap" that also means "acceptably worse" but since they're not really paying for quality work, they're OK with it... If that's the business reputation you're looking for, well, then good job. I've said it before: " there's always someone willing to do it a little cheaper and a little crappier" (congrats you're cheaper and crappier than walmart)
I've dealt with so many crazy uninformed client inquiries I've decided to start a glossary and even offer advice on how to deal with them. Maybe next blog I'll tackle the issue of post-delivery and angry clients!
Clueless dreamer: This person has no idea who you are, but saw way to much reality CAKE TV! They call you blindly with no clue what they really want and even less though about it actually costing them. They want a cake just like they saw on TV but for he and his girlfriend only (2 servings). They expect that you have that cake just sitting on the rack ready for them without thought of advance ordering. (I have had these people call looking for anything from a chainsaw to Barbi dolls, and for this afternoon... good thing I stock cakes like that?)
solution: I've never landed a cake from a client like this. Usually I end up feeling insulted when I give them some sort of guideline about the price and they say something that matches their mentality... so instead I tell them to go to my website, look me up online and call me back when they have some idea what they want and how much they want to spend. The less time wasted on them the better. they wont call back.
Cheapskate: This client calls or emails and gives very vague info. "Can you do a cake for me in August and how much is that?" They're bargain basement shopping for the lowest price and haven't realized yet that walmart is their place! The reason the info they've giving you is so vague is because they don't want to spend the time explaining what they want until they like the price. They're calling or emailing so many places that to save carpal tunnel or loosing their voice, they cut to the chase.
solution: again as little time spent on these people the better. They're looking for a quick answer anyway so they can call the next bakery in the book. I tell them my minimum price and explain that most cakes don't fall under that category. I'm up front and honest so that I'm not trying to figure out what corners to cut later so as to fit their budget. cutting corners for me just means I do the same amount of work but get paid much less. These people can be a problem post delivery as I've found they can get "buyers remorse" and regret spending their hard earned money on a "silly cake" beware!
Fatal attraction ( big fan): This may be more for those who've had some TV or press exposure, but people will try it on anyone! This cake shopper contacts you explaining that they love your work, perhaps they've seen you on TV and undoubtedly their cute lil 6 year old niece loves you dearly and is your biggest fan and they're quite convinced "you should be on one of 'dem TV shows"! They will schmooze you and massage your ego until you feel obligated to do the cake for them for next to nothing! It seems ( for me at least) a little flattery goes a long way! It's a cunning strategy and sometimes it's even true!
Solution: This is a toughie as you'll already be in a better more peaceful place. I try to be fair and charge as I should but honestly they're going to get more out of me than they bargained for! I'll go out of my way even if I do think they're pulling my leg. I had one lady totally bullshit me once: She called with the "I'm your biggest fan and my entire universe of friends and family all love you and we've all dreamt of having one of your "masterpieces" ... she went on to explain how they follow me and love my "recent" cakes. I asked "which one" to which I could hear her clicking away at her computer until she described a cake... Mike McCarey's cake. (nice one too BTW! you da man Mike) she still got a good deal!
Alexander the great ( I want it all!): This client suffers from Cake Reality TV Syndrome (from this point on referred to as "CRTS" They've watched the magic of TV and like a "big fan" they may truly love your work and want a cake from you, or they may have been lulled into the misconception that making cakes is as easy as it seems on TV. Random bakers get random unknown request for huge mechanized cakes and somehow manage to make 'em in 8 hours. They have never been presented with the actual reality of the industry and will find it hard to understand why you cant repeat what they saw on TV or the cost involved. They ask for the world not realizing that everything they add to their cake adds tons of time to our work, and thus, more cost! Frequently this client will even think it's their "job" to make last minute changes or "twist" to their order all with no regard to the cost difference.
solution: The usual fix is quoting a price that's actually worthy of the work they want done and explaining why they can't get what they're asking for on a budget. I had one of these after our Christmas tree show aired on TLC. The lady called for a cake "just like" what they saw us make in a 5 minute segment of a TV show. I found out they were on a $100.00 budget. That amount wouldn't have bought the icing required for the piece! I try very hard to create something they can afford and be happy with but truth is if they want the world but their budget is Ramen Noodles, there's a conflict brewing! I've had more clients unreasonably angry after a cake like this scenario because it didn't meet the extremely high demand they imagined. I've rarely done a cake I wasn't willing to stand behind 100% but when they wanted far more, they can become unhappy pretty easily. I try not to let my clients settle... better to move on.
Sir Lancelot: This client is so well connected that you should feel honored that they took the time and had the good nature enough to think about including you in their kids 2nd birthday! The amount of business and number of people they will magically transform into mindless followers of your bakery is staggering! You should literally pay this person for the honor of doing a cake for them, as the rewards for you will be endless. They can be individuals or huge groups (or in my case pro sporting teams) Either way this customer believes or wants you to believe that they have the ability to single handedly make your business! You'll never need to advertise again.
solution: run away! or at least don't fall victim to the idea that anyone gets something for nothing! Just as Lancelot vowed to protect and honor King Arthur, he also caused the fall of his kingdom by banging the crown off of Guinevere! It's easy especially if you're a small bakery to feel like opportunity is knocking, but as a small bakery you should understand that you can't go giving everyone a cake with the hopes of creating a business or free advertising! I've done cakes for all sorts of people in the past that I believed would have the ability to increase my business volume, but in truth I can't name more than a few cakes that were booked because of all of them combined! I even did a free cake for The KC Chiefs ( long story) and I didn't receive a single order in return. If a little exposure is what you're looking for, try the next art faire! ( bring samples)
The Crypt (ic) Keeper: This client is closely related to the "Clueless dreamer" in that they've got no idea what they want. They may have all the specifics and be well researched, but as far as knowing what they actually want, they've not a clue... They may call with random and pointless ideas or thoughts but have no concise plan for what the cake should look like.
solution: These people aren't so bad as long as they're willing to give you control and won't second guess your decision. I actually like this guy as normally they are just looking for guidance and as an "expert" ( notice the quotation marks!) in my field I'm happy to point them where I think they should go in terms of design. It's our job as cake designers to know what looks best in cake and how to do it, it's nice to have a client that doesn't try to take on the designers role! I've heard this is some decorators least favorite type of client because they feel like they need their direction, but think outside the cake box and you'll see this as a blessing! They're usually more open to any input you got and some of my favorite cake have been done for them!
Last Minute shopper: We've all been there... This person needs a last minute cake for a myriad of possible reasons. They expect that in no time you can create what ever their little procrastinating heart desires... They will often appeal to your softer side as a "big fan" will, hoping you'll feel sorry for them and squeeze them in.
solution: It's a question of quality versus time. if I can fit someone in I always will, but they need to understand that they're going to pay more and I've got to do it my way! As they say a lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.
The baker in the family: This person is the self proclaimed or "used to be" the "family cake baker" and for what ever reason they've decided to go to you instead. They tend to think they know more than you do, or that they can manipulate you into cutting them a deal because of some sort of inside knowledge they think they have. " I know how this is done so don't try to pull anything over on me" or " I worked in a bakery for 20 years" (yeah from 60-80!) They think you're obliged to owe them because they too did or do cake. Humm...
solution: I stay away from these all I can! I know my product, I'm happy with what I produce, but doing a cake for someone who is letting you know in advance that they'll be critical of your work is a bad idea! It's no different then taking your car straight from one repair shop down the street to another and letting the guy pick apart the others work. It's bad practice and damaging for everyone!
I could go on and on with this and I encourage you to add your own in the comments section!
What ever the perils of this industry be, there are those of us who are looking to understand them, explain them and share with each other our experiences. We've got an often fun job that can be tricky to make a real living from! So many of our peers like to post on facebook things like "Oh my how am I to finish all these dozens of cakes... poor me?" (earlier blog "fake it til you make it"... look it up!) Cake TV , or rather the possibility of being on it in the future is responsible for some of this, as many feel a need to "look" busy as they feel it makes them more appealing to producers. ( busy apparently equates to great?) It may be true that this week they are that busy, but reality is dealing with our customers, and making a viable business out of cake is tough! We don't need people to fake it and make the rest of us feel like we're the only ones struggling with it! We need to unite and figure out a way to make it better for all of us! THAT'S ALL OF US!! I've been given a gift and I see it as such. I have been lucky enough that people tend to look to me for guidance and insight... Not that I feel like I'm worthy of it, but as it happens I have thought about it a bunch. I could post pics of every cake I do and brag about being busy ( even though I'm not) I could put on the front that most everyone would believe. I could swear to be doing more than I could stand and everyone would believe it and my own desires to be respected for being a "success" in this industry would be upheld. But I choose to support the truth and realize that real understanding of this industry will come when we can all stand up and say, " yeah this is tough... but working together and sharing the struggle is so much better than hiding from the truth!
There is only ever going to be one of you, and one of me... the contribution you make to the world is determined by you and by your actions. We have such a short time to make that impact and the sooner we chose to do something good and stand for something we believe in the better! Don't waste your time comparing yourself or your work to someone else, be you, do your thing and an impact will have been made as only you could make it.
Peace N Love
m
Restaurants are fickle just as cake is, but with different pitfals. Many chefs cater and frequently do large banquets that closely mirror our experiences, requiring advanced tastings, meetings with the client and stress about supply and cost versus profit. There is a big difference between how they sell and how we must sell. For one, they can give the client the finished product months before the actual event. This means that the client can try the "Tagliatelle with roasted chicken, tossed in a light olive oil with sun dried tomato, or the Apricot glazed salmon with saffron baby potatoes with soy, garlic and ginger splash"( yeah I'm hungry too) during the actual sampling. They can eat at a table decorated just as it will be the night of their event with the same wine, same lighting and same service staff they will expect when their guest arrive! As long as things go more or less to plan, there is little to worry about in terms of surprises. If the client orders 150 dinners, the chef will plan for that and the odd occurrence of an unplanned vegan guest showing up unannounced. The everyday operation is more trying, with an unknown number of guest ordering what they will. Trying to plan for the ups and downs of that sort of business is very tough, especially as today's economy tends to force more and more people to cut back!
Our business is similar, but also very different. (if that makes sense?) Our work is much more abstract. We can still meet clients and plan many things months in advance, offer several different choices of flavor, style, icings and fillings, and as far as our job goes that's the easy part. The client may die for your lemon cake with raspberry filling, and you can assure them that when they cut their cake that's what they'll get, but after that they're going almost entirely on your word and reputation, and there is no way they can really understand what it is that you're going to do for them.
I consider myself to be a "well known cake person" in my area... However I get calls all the time from people who have never heard of me, or have no clue what it is that I can do. Even the educated ones ( and by that I mean they've researched my work) can barely grasp what it is that I'm presenting to them in terms of a cake. I can't show up to the consult with their completed cake, I can't show them the exact size that 350 servings represents, though I do know bakers that stack dummies for clients (great idea!). I can't expect them to understand the value of my talent, nor the amount of work that goes into my craft. The time creating, and the hassle of delivering and setting up a cake is also outside their comprehension. So then how can I really truly convince them that the price is fair and that the cake will be beyond their greatest imagination? I'm not sure I can, and here in lies the problem for us all. People seem to more and more often expect more while paying less. They think that because walmart does a cake that honestly presents well ( and looks like the 100 done before it) on the cheap, that we as custom cake designers have to follow suit. They think that because so many decorators do and well, it's the way of things these days! I know a lot of bakers in our area that will work cheaper than walmart thinking that they are "competing" with them. They price their work so low that really there is no profit. I've heard so many times from budding businesses that "we're trying to build a clientele so we have to work cheap". The idea being that because they're cheap they'll get more cakes, thus more repeat customers, thus more and more referrals. This works but the reputation you've built is " she's really cheap" I don't know how else to put it other than quality cost! We all know it and when a client perceives your work as "cheap" that also means "acceptably worse" but since they're not really paying for quality work, they're OK with it... If that's the business reputation you're looking for, well, then good job. I've said it before: " there's always someone willing to do it a little cheaper and a little crappier" (congrats you're cheaper and crappier than walmart)
I've dealt with so many crazy uninformed client inquiries I've decided to start a glossary and even offer advice on how to deal with them. Maybe next blog I'll tackle the issue of post-delivery and angry clients!
Clueless dreamer: This person has no idea who you are, but saw way to much reality CAKE TV! They call you blindly with no clue what they really want and even less though about it actually costing them. They want a cake just like they saw on TV but for he and his girlfriend only (2 servings). They expect that you have that cake just sitting on the rack ready for them without thought of advance ordering. (I have had these people call looking for anything from a chainsaw to Barbi dolls, and for this afternoon... good thing I stock cakes like that?)
solution: I've never landed a cake from a client like this. Usually I end up feeling insulted when I give them some sort of guideline about the price and they say something that matches their mentality... so instead I tell them to go to my website, look me up online and call me back when they have some idea what they want and how much they want to spend. The less time wasted on them the better. they wont call back.
Cheapskate: This client calls or emails and gives very vague info. "Can you do a cake for me in August and how much is that?" They're bargain basement shopping for the lowest price and haven't realized yet that walmart is their place! The reason the info they've giving you is so vague is because they don't want to spend the time explaining what they want until they like the price. They're calling or emailing so many places that to save carpal tunnel or loosing their voice, they cut to the chase.
solution: again as little time spent on these people the better. They're looking for a quick answer anyway so they can call the next bakery in the book. I tell them my minimum price and explain that most cakes don't fall under that category. I'm up front and honest so that I'm not trying to figure out what corners to cut later so as to fit their budget. cutting corners for me just means I do the same amount of work but get paid much less. These people can be a problem post delivery as I've found they can get "buyers remorse" and regret spending their hard earned money on a "silly cake" beware!
Fatal attraction ( big fan): This may be more for those who've had some TV or press exposure, but people will try it on anyone! This cake shopper contacts you explaining that they love your work, perhaps they've seen you on TV and undoubtedly their cute lil 6 year old niece loves you dearly and is your biggest fan and they're quite convinced "you should be on one of 'dem TV shows"! They will schmooze you and massage your ego until you feel obligated to do the cake for them for next to nothing! It seems ( for me at least) a little flattery goes a long way! It's a cunning strategy and sometimes it's even true!
Solution: This is a toughie as you'll already be in a better more peaceful place. I try to be fair and charge as I should but honestly they're going to get more out of me than they bargained for! I'll go out of my way even if I do think they're pulling my leg. I had one lady totally bullshit me once: She called with the "I'm your biggest fan and my entire universe of friends and family all love you and we've all dreamt of having one of your "masterpieces" ... she went on to explain how they follow me and love my "recent" cakes. I asked "which one" to which I could hear her clicking away at her computer until she described a cake... Mike McCarey's cake. (nice one too BTW! you da man Mike) she still got a good deal!
Alexander the great ( I want it all!): This client suffers from Cake Reality TV Syndrome (from this point on referred to as "CRTS" They've watched the magic of TV and like a "big fan" they may truly love your work and want a cake from you, or they may have been lulled into the misconception that making cakes is as easy as it seems on TV. Random bakers get random unknown request for huge mechanized cakes and somehow manage to make 'em in 8 hours. They have never been presented with the actual reality of the industry and will find it hard to understand why you cant repeat what they saw on TV or the cost involved. They ask for the world not realizing that everything they add to their cake adds tons of time to our work, and thus, more cost! Frequently this client will even think it's their "job" to make last minute changes or "twist" to their order all with no regard to the cost difference.
solution: The usual fix is quoting a price that's actually worthy of the work they want done and explaining why they can't get what they're asking for on a budget. I had one of these after our Christmas tree show aired on TLC. The lady called for a cake "just like" what they saw us make in a 5 minute segment of a TV show. I found out they were on a $100.00 budget. That amount wouldn't have bought the icing required for the piece! I try very hard to create something they can afford and be happy with but truth is if they want the world but their budget is Ramen Noodles, there's a conflict brewing! I've had more clients unreasonably angry after a cake like this scenario because it didn't meet the extremely high demand they imagined. I've rarely done a cake I wasn't willing to stand behind 100% but when they wanted far more, they can become unhappy pretty easily. I try not to let my clients settle... better to move on.
Sir Lancelot: This client is so well connected that you should feel honored that they took the time and had the good nature enough to think about including you in their kids 2nd birthday! The amount of business and number of people they will magically transform into mindless followers of your bakery is staggering! You should literally pay this person for the honor of doing a cake for them, as the rewards for you will be endless. They can be individuals or huge groups (or in my case pro sporting teams) Either way this customer believes or wants you to believe that they have the ability to single handedly make your business! You'll never need to advertise again.
solution: run away! or at least don't fall victim to the idea that anyone gets something for nothing! Just as Lancelot vowed to protect and honor King Arthur, he also caused the fall of his kingdom by banging the crown off of Guinevere! It's easy especially if you're a small bakery to feel like opportunity is knocking, but as a small bakery you should understand that you can't go giving everyone a cake with the hopes of creating a business or free advertising! I've done cakes for all sorts of people in the past that I believed would have the ability to increase my business volume, but in truth I can't name more than a few cakes that were booked because of all of them combined! I even did a free cake for The KC Chiefs ( long story) and I didn't receive a single order in return. If a little exposure is what you're looking for, try the next art faire! ( bring samples)
The Crypt (ic) Keeper: This client is closely related to the "Clueless dreamer" in that they've got no idea what they want. They may have all the specifics and be well researched, but as far as knowing what they actually want, they've not a clue... They may call with random and pointless ideas or thoughts but have no concise plan for what the cake should look like.
solution: These people aren't so bad as long as they're willing to give you control and won't second guess your decision. I actually like this guy as normally they are just looking for guidance and as an "expert" ( notice the quotation marks!) in my field I'm happy to point them where I think they should go in terms of design. It's our job as cake designers to know what looks best in cake and how to do it, it's nice to have a client that doesn't try to take on the designers role! I've heard this is some decorators least favorite type of client because they feel like they need their direction, but think outside the cake box and you'll see this as a blessing! They're usually more open to any input you got and some of my favorite cake have been done for them!
Last Minute shopper: We've all been there... This person needs a last minute cake for a myriad of possible reasons. They expect that in no time you can create what ever their little procrastinating heart desires... They will often appeal to your softer side as a "big fan" will, hoping you'll feel sorry for them and squeeze them in.
solution: It's a question of quality versus time. if I can fit someone in I always will, but they need to understand that they're going to pay more and I've got to do it my way! As they say a lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.
The baker in the family: This person is the self proclaimed or "used to be" the "family cake baker" and for what ever reason they've decided to go to you instead. They tend to think they know more than you do, or that they can manipulate you into cutting them a deal because of some sort of inside knowledge they think they have. " I know how this is done so don't try to pull anything over on me" or " I worked in a bakery for 20 years" (yeah from 60-80!) They think you're obliged to owe them because they too did or do cake. Humm...
solution: I stay away from these all I can! I know my product, I'm happy with what I produce, but doing a cake for someone who is letting you know in advance that they'll be critical of your work is a bad idea! It's no different then taking your car straight from one repair shop down the street to another and letting the guy pick apart the others work. It's bad practice and damaging for everyone!
I could go on and on with this and I encourage you to add your own in the comments section!
What ever the perils of this industry be, there are those of us who are looking to understand them, explain them and share with each other our experiences. We've got an often fun job that can be tricky to make a real living from! So many of our peers like to post on facebook things like "Oh my how am I to finish all these dozens of cakes... poor me?" (earlier blog "fake it til you make it"... look it up!) Cake TV , or rather the possibility of being on it in the future is responsible for some of this, as many feel a need to "look" busy as they feel it makes them more appealing to producers. ( busy apparently equates to great?) It may be true that this week they are that busy, but reality is dealing with our customers, and making a viable business out of cake is tough! We don't need people to fake it and make the rest of us feel like we're the only ones struggling with it! We need to unite and figure out a way to make it better for all of us! THAT'S ALL OF US!! I've been given a gift and I see it as such. I have been lucky enough that people tend to look to me for guidance and insight... Not that I feel like I'm worthy of it, but as it happens I have thought about it a bunch. I could post pics of every cake I do and brag about being busy ( even though I'm not) I could put on the front that most everyone would believe. I could swear to be doing more than I could stand and everyone would believe it and my own desires to be respected for being a "success" in this industry would be upheld. But I choose to support the truth and realize that real understanding of this industry will come when we can all stand up and say, " yeah this is tough... but working together and sharing the struggle is so much better than hiding from the truth!
There is only ever going to be one of you, and one of me... the contribution you make to the world is determined by you and by your actions. We have such a short time to make that impact and the sooner we chose to do something good and stand for something we believe in the better! Don't waste your time comparing yourself or your work to someone else, be you, do your thing and an impact will have been made as only you could make it.
Peace N Love
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