Today we’d like to introduce you to K.C. Wright.
K.C., can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
20 years ago I was building a wedding business, focused on photography and overall planning. I fell in love with the wedding cakes, so I got out a cook book, found a recipe and baked my first cake. It was awful. In taste and appearance, just awful. I practiced, a lot. I brought cakes to work, out with friends, as gifts for ANYTHING, until I started hearing consistently positive feedback. I convinced a wedding client to allow me to make her cake and from there I built it up to a full-time business. Eventually I reclaimed my soul, after selling it in the wedding business, and started doing cakes that made me happy; fun themes, lots of color, etc. When I moved to the states, I gave up the business for a long time. Recently, last five years or so, I’ve started picking it up again. Not full time, and not so much as a business, just for my own artistic outlet.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I mean, I’ve dropped a cake or two. It’s actually been pretty smooth to be honest. The struggles came from trying to be something I’m not; Perfect. Once I relaxed and realized this is art and not a spreadsheet, the creativity just started to flow. The biggest challenge I’ve encountered in the cake world is structure. It’s brutal. My mind will build skyscrapers out of cake. I’m always confused when my skillset can’t keep up with the rest of me. The foundation is key, you can’t paint a wall until the sheetrock has been prepped. I’m a hard core Type A personality, but I have this little cricket living within that wants me to burst with creativity. I struggle to find balance, meaning, I know I need to take the time to build a solid foundation if I expect my cakes to soar, but I just want to get to the fun part, the colorful part! Patience.
Today, the big challenges come from the rest of life. My desire to be an artist vs all of my other desires. My entrepreneurial spirit vs my cushy 401K corporate gig. I have days where all I want to do is make cakes, it comes and goes. I am also a backup dancer for some local tribute bands; Wild Boys (Duran Duran tribute) and PriMadonna (Madonna tribute) and feel the same way about that. Sometimes I dream about how amazing it would be to just focus on dancing, really master the techniques. Other days, I just want to focus on my corporate career and leave the arts for someone else. At this point in my life, the obstacles are less frightening than they were when I was in my 20’s. I’m busy with life, because I’ve found things, I enjoy being busy with. My analytical brain can handle some structural complications more so now than before. And when I drop a cake, I can laugh.
Cake ‘n Dagger – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
This is a creative outlet I have in life, sometimes I make a little cash from it. That said, I have been nicknamed “K.C. Cakes” by many. I am known for “bringing the cake”. I think my decorating style reflects my personal style – I like my cakes to be colorful, themed and edgy. I am proud that I was able to recover after being in the wedding business so long, I took back control and thoroughly enjoy creating cakes again. I’m not sure what sets me apart from other cake companies, as I’ve never ordered a cake from anyone, but I guess the obvious difference between me and them is I will turn down business, constantly. If you want a cake that I don’t like, I’ll just say no.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As far as Cake ‘n Dagger goes, I look forward to continuing on this path for as long as my wrists will allow! 15-20 years ago, I had more ambition to grow an empire. But today, I just want to enjoy making cakes that I love when I want to. Personally, I’m focused on the things that I love in life. Disney, traveling and tacos. As a back-up dancer, like the cake making, I’m going to continue that until my body says “no more”.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cake_n_dagger/
Image Credit:
Thomas E. Moore & Gregg Gannon
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