Let's get some artwork.

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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 3:59 am

Fully aware that this could fall all to sh*t, I thought it might be fun to post an art bait from the start.

The movie bait worked out alright: https://forum.419eater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=273529&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

So why not? Wink

My character is Brad and he starts with a simple format. Nothing new to it really. Borrowed, when needed, from great baiters here past and present.

Quote:

Hi. My name is Brad and I run a private art import company. My company is in need of representation in W**t Africa.

Blah, blah, blah ..

If you are interested, please email me promptly so that I can share more information on the position/pay/benefits.

Kind regards,

Brad

Responses come quickly.

Quote:

Hello Brad, I feel a little bit insecure doing business online but I think I'm gonna try this one...Yes I am Mr Brad

Quote:

I am here and would like to know more about this thank you

Quote:

Sure i am interested let me know whats its all about kay

So. We have some interest. It's all about baiting now, right? Very Happy

(padme my guy u no vex ooo)

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 5:00 am

Just what types of art does Brad represent? Laughing

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 5:09 am

^

Why, I never! Laughing

Quote:

My company sells high end, original, indigenous artwork.

We pay the highest prices for quality art in the business. 75% of the selling price blah, blah. Our average selling price is $82,225.00.

You, as the agent, will procure the artists and *yaaaaaaaaaaaawn* respective country.

We need native wood carvings, paintings and sculptures. The artist may be asked to do commission works based on the buyer's design.

We, the company, pay upfront for the artwork plus shipping fees once the artist sample work is accepted by our board. Sample work is the responsibility of the agent.

I look forward to your email.

Kind regards,

Brad

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 2:26 pm

Justcold wrote:

Why, I never!

Yes. Yes, you have and probably on more than one occasion.

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 10:02 pm

Art Baits can be most fruitful. Good Luck with it.

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 10:16 pm

So looking forward to the lad masterpieces to come.

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 11:53 pm

Moving along ...

lad wrote:

I'm from Slough in UK, May I ask how you got my e-mail address besides I am an Agent....Thank you

Quote:

We got your email from a lead company here in the US. If you wish to be taken off of our register, please indicate so and I'll take care of it.

Can you procure original artwork from the UK? What sort can you procure?

We do have agents in the UK.

Brad

lad wrote:

Real art works and frame works...UK figurines with diff art styles...I awaits your respond...Thanks

lad2 wrote:

Do i have to send any money for this ?

No, and you better be glad we have some standards at Eater.

Quote:

No. You will never be asked to send any money. We pay for quality artwork upfront.

Once your artist sample has been accepted by our company panel, we pay all costs.

We pay you. You will never send us money.

Brad

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 5:01 am

Messing with lads and old-school to boot! I approve! Cool

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 4:24 pm

^Get Robert on the phone. Business is picking up. Very Happy

The lads are busy this morning.

Quote:

Good Morning Dear Brad, i am a nice honest man but i am poor but i am
very hard working man age 37 i am living in Benin Republic west Africa
but i can handle this issue and found a very nice site in Benin here
or Nigeria i can do it better sir,

Best Regards

Mr. Joseph

Welcome aboard! Laughing

The next quote is from the lad claiming to live in Slough, UK. He sent some internet pics and I chastised him for it:

Quote:

Those ARE the types of masks that I am referring to. Beautiful.

The next step is for you to find a superb artist that will make them. I do NOT want carvings that anyone can buy from the internet. I can buy them all day long for 150 USD.

We require ORIGINAL carvings, remember? Please find a local artist that will make them. Take some pictures of the masks and the artist. Then send the pics to me. I will show the pics to the buying committee. I can then tell you what we are willing to pay.

Thank you so much!!

Brad

Then he did a drive by phone call to verify my character and decided to get serious ...

Quote:

Okay thanks you i already am scouting for the Art work right now an would get some samples by today

and we have a few other agents out in the field

Quote:

i will not disappoint you

Quote:

Hey JC! Here is my daily devotional to you!! I know that I will never be able to even carry your jockstrap AND I'm the very definition of a cockwallet, but please keep mentoring me. My Mom and sister send their love. ~b8er~

WHOOPS!

Wrong email.

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 8:50 pm

Quote:

Good Morning Mr.Johnson I am very glad for your respond and i am
willing to act on your request and again what i will like to know is
that please explain to me about what i can act as agent and about
renting of shops where to sample the goods and again i will like to
see some of the artworks of yours and you know we will need some
documents from the government of this country or dose it not need of
that are we going to rent shop only for that,

Please Do explain better because as of what you have said with my own
understanding i really ready to take care of all this you said i can
do more than your expectation if your market is really i will help you
more than you think by the Grace of God because i believe everything
belong to God and he will help us God Bless waiting for your Respond
sir Thanks very much,

Mr.Gorge

Quote:

Good afternoon George!

We are interested in Ceremonial War Masks from either Igbo or Yoruba. The artist will need to be of exceptional talent and must produce excellent pieces.

You will not need to rent a shop and you will be provided with the latest technology (iphone, laptops) to communicate with us in the United States.

Please find a maker for the masks and send me some pictures of his work. Once we determine that you can carry out our instructions, we will send you a Contract for Work via email.

My company already has the network in place for importing. Do you have access to skype?

I look forward to your prompt email.

Sincerely,

Brad

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 11:41 pm

I've edited out some of the usual banter for easier reading.

Quote:

Good Morning Mr.Johnson:
- Yes i will provide you dose kind of mask here because in Nigeria i can get many of it

- you can even need some old oracle and some old mask the business we
work out if you can be serious and trusted we can make it by the grace
of God,

- so i will be happy dance on your tune if you want (I've heard that from a couple of mods here Sad

)

- i believe with trust we can move a motion thanks for your understanding

Mr.Gorge

Quote:

Hello George!

Yes. The older masks would be very exciting and we could sell them quite quickly, but I worry about taking such older masks out of Nigeria as they are part of the country's heritage.

- please do look at this mask. It is of the style that we are looking for.

**Inserted pic of carved Igbo war mask**

- We mainly need to know if your artist can do CUSTOM work.

- I am going to put you in contact with one of our agents in Europe. He has sold us many pieces of art over the years

I look forward to hearing from you George. God bless you and your family!

Brad

This will be interesting. The key right now is to get him to the point where he can feel the new iphone in his hand and start mentally spending the commission fees.

Then we'll discuss samples on his dime. Very Happy

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 10:26 pm

Really excellent point about requiring new artwork as opposed to what may be antique or have cultural significance. The piece you received earlier and the replica of the Imperial Walker were clearly legal trophies!

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 5:47 am

George wrote:

Nigeria mask I will know how to do it because I have heard this before so there is how they do it by giving money to some boys they will get it down for you.

And those are with some kind of spirited but if you just need some without any spirit as just artist act fine is many here with very nice woods acts and very strong woods over here,

Quote:

Hello George!

The pictures you sent are beautiful. Non-spirited please. (no juju!!)

We have three clients, right now, that want CUSTOM carved masks. Could the artist make a new mask to look like what my clients desire?

I will also be sending you a list of phones and laptops to choose from, so that we can send them to you once the artist sample is approved and the contract signed.

I'm very excited and I hope that you are too!

By God's grace,

Brad

Baiting Guru Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 3876

"some kind of spirit"

sounds great, extra charge for getting the lad to hire a juju priest, who adds the spirit. ask for pictures of that ceremony, otherwise he'll claim that it has happened while he did not do anything.

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 6:02 am

^

Quote:

hire a juju priest

Too many things could go sideways, going that route, for my sensibilities. Smile

Another email exchange today. Not really worth putting here, but the bait is progressing well.

Mort's character should be making an appearance this week.

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 6:39 am

Maybe you can ask also for some "Certificate of originality", for to be sure that the masks is handmade, not "series products". Laughing

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 26 Dec 2016 Posts: 11

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out!

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 6:51 am

^ Thank you and welcome to Eater.

Birlic wrote:

"Certificate of originality"

He will have to have photographic documentation of the carvings. Very Happy

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 4:39 pm

Quote:

Mort's character should be making an appearance this week.

Since I couldn't stand JC's nagging and constant bugging anymore, I've been basically forced to mail this guy. Very Happy

Let me introduce you a son of Robert, Anthony - a manager of Kiwi arts & crafts. Very Happy

Quote:

Dear sir,

it is my pleasure to get in touch with you on behalf of my good friend as well as good business associate, Mr. Brad Johnson, who had been kind enough to seek new opportunities and contractors on our behalf,

Let me introduce myself briefly, before you will be given the chance to introduce yourself. I am an agent of Kiwi Arts & Crafts for the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa) who has been working in the field since 1999 and up until now, I have had thousands of succesful art installations all over the world, but mostly in the region I am in charge of, as I have mentioned. We focus on delivering only the finest quality products spanning from decorational items, items of religious or cultural heritage as well as movie props.

Mr. Johnson told me you are experienced and reliable artist we can work with and that is why I have taken it my personal interest to contact you. I hope I have reached the right person.

I await your brief introduction as well, and I believe after that, we will be able to discuss our business interests.

Best regards,

Baiting Guru Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 3876

Justcold wrote:

^

Quote:

hire a juju priest

Too many things could go sideways, going that route, for my sensibilities. Smile

Another email exchange today. Not really worth putting here, but the bait is progressing well.

Mort's character should be making an appearance this week.

in my opinion, a juju priest is in the same situation as the artist who actually carves the piece of art. the lad orders a ceremony as he orders the carving. if he pays for their effort, everything is okay. but if he does not pay them, there'll be an ITP hurt anyways.

the only side effect: if the lad does not pay, the juju-priest will take revenge by cursing the lad. until now, there is no proof that a curse actually works, Wink

, but if he believes in it, it will work. and it will hurt the lad more than any dollarchop.

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 11:58 pm

^^^^^
Isn't it possible that the priest, or whatever could use animals, and/or other sacred items in the ceremony? I don't know what angry priests would do, or use, but I'm sure it wouldn't be nice.

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2017 12:49 am

Without going into the intricacies of religion, curses, and sacrifices, and disregarding the ITP argument as that is a deal between the lad and the artist, or whomever (not the baiter and the artist), Justcold stated the following:

JC wrote:

Too many things could go sideways, going that route, for my sensibilities.

It's his bait. If he doesn't feel comfortable with a certain path, why argue for him to do it?

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 6:50 pm

The lad has not answered further emails. Not a peep. Maybe he found the bait, maybe he found love. Who knows? Very Happy

He'll have to go to back burner and I'll have to do some more prep work.

But the bait will continue and I'll update as needed.

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 7:02 pm

Or he got references of from our last satisfied clients. Very Happy

Word must spread fast in WA. Wink