Behind The Bake NYC: What It Took to Pull Off a Live Show
Let’s be real—pulling off a live baking show in New York City is no small feat. Now imagine doing it without a team. No interns. No production crew. Just me, my vision, a couple of prayer circles... and Rodney on camera.
The Bake NYC wasn’t backed by a network. This was independent, community-rooted, and self-made. A love letter to the folks who’ve followed my journey from Sugar Rush to Spring Baking Championship. A full-circle moment baked with storytelling, flavor, and faith.
Here’s the real behind-the-scenes of what it took to make it happen.
📝 Step 1: Say the Dream Out Loud
I knew I didn’t want to just do another tasting or demo. I wanted to create an experience—a live show that mixed stand-up energy, heartfelt storytelling, and bold, beautiful desserts. Something raw, something real. Something that felt like me.
So I said it out loud. And when I said it out loud, it became real.
📍 Step 2: Locking the Venue (with History and Hustle)
I booked NY Cake’s event kitchen—a place that means a lot to me, because it's where I got my start. Thanks to that relationship, I got the space at a discounted rate. And trust me, in NYC, that discount meant everything.
There was no manager sending emails. No production assistant making calls. I handled it all, from contracts to confirmations. I made sure every detail was tight, even when my inbox and brain were both on fire.
🧢 Step 3: Build the Show—on a Shoestring (but Make It Luxe)
Let me break it down.
I had a $100 merch budget, and I made it work.
I ordered $2.99 blank T-shirts and $0.75 dish towels, then hit up Ninja Transfers for some DTF prints. I pressed, folded, tagged, and packed the swag bags myself.
But when it came to the desserts, I didn’t cut corners—I went full gourmet.
I spent real money sourcing premium ingredients for the birthday cake and samples:
Japanese Oishii Koyo strawberries
PinkGlow pineapples
Sugarfina gummies, cooked down with the fruit to create luxe fillings
Blue eggs for that rich, golden yolk finish
Silver-label high-fat European-style butter for a smoother, creamier mouthfeel
Every element had a story and a purpose.
This wasn’t just “cute” baking—it was refined, soulful, and layered with memory, culture, and technique.
📢 Step 4: Sell the Tickets (No Ads, Just People)
This show was powered by my community.
No ad spend. No sponsored posts. Just real connection, storytelling, and strategy.
I used Instagram reels, stories, email blasts, and honest captions to let folks know what The Bake really was—and why it mattered.
I set a goal for ticket sales and moved with intention.
This wasn’t just a show. It was a blueprint.
🎤 Step 5: Show Up and Perform (Like It's National TV)
On the day of the show, I was up early setting tables, unpacking cake jars, double-checking tasting portions, and still somehow managed to deliver a full performance. I shared my journey. I showed how I made the cheesecake. I toasted the coconut live. I poured the color-changing tea like a food magician.
And I talked to people—not at them. We laughed, we cried, and we built something that night.
🙏 Final Thoughts: The Power of Doing It Anyway
No major sponsors. No glam team. No production budget.
But still—The Bake NYC happened.
Because I believed in it. Because I bet on myself. Because I built it brick by brick, dollar by dollar.
If you’re dreaming about something, here’s your reminder:
Start scrappy. Start solo. Just start.
I didn’t wait for permission. And I’m not waiting for perfection either.
This is just the beginning.
Next stop: Folsom. West Coast, I’m coming with heat.
— Kareem
