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Your Own Ghost-Hunting Group in 16 Easy Steps
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Paranormalcy
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23 September 2009
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ghost hunting ghost group investigation
Setting Up Your Ghost-Hunting Group and Investigation in 16 Easy Steps
If you're planning on starting your own group, you should at least give this a brief look.
Written by Jason J. Patterson, August 2009
1. Gather your core team members, hopefully that are interested and want to participate consistently, making sure timetables and schedules are understood for each person so you'll know when you can and can't go "ghost hunting" and between what hours.
2. Gather equipment. Flashlights, micro audio recorders, folding chairs, umbrellas, cameras, batteries, videocameras, medical supplies, useful tools, bug repellents and sprays, plastic bags and boxes and plastic containers for collecting anything of interest, maybe even binoculars - and something you should NEVER go out into the field without, a pad of paper and something to write with - if all else fails, you can always write things down, draw pictures, make note of times, temperatures, locations, "feelings", etc. Don't forget appropriate clothing and a blanket or two, toiletries, food, etc., never know what you'll need. Past that will be all the higher-end stuff, digital thermometers, EM/field strength meters, motion sensor arrays, cell-phones/walkie-talkies, night-vision apparatus, whatever you think you can afford and think could be useful - I'd definitely keep everything to a minimum to begin with.
3. Gather information on local areas of interest, activity, myths and stories and legends, and then things further out so you'll have an ongoing, growing, working knowledge of all your nearby possible known locations for paranormal activity. Family, friends and family and friends of those are usually the best places to start, someone usually has a whole untapped resource of local legends, but might never say anything ordinarily. Work outward from here, with people that these original people know, associated, co-workers, bosses, workers, students, teachers, anything somewhat still familiar and close acquantances, then from there maybe go independent, such as to the library, police station or newspaper office, do some research on your own, ask them if they know of any good books and maybe also hint or ask them about anything they know about the area that you could check out, or stories or legends they have heard - they may then know other people with stories or personal experiences and further knowledge, or even yet MORE people to talk to. Any locations too far away for now should still be written down for future reference - you never know!
4. Develop at least a general strategy, of maybe a few different options, for dealing with living people who approach you, either on or off-site, about what you're doing - law enforcement is pretty obvious, but what about neighborhood kids that want to tag along, busybody next-door neighbors, etc.?
5. Check up on (research) any place you're planning on going, or check up first to see if you WANT to go to a place - see if it's off-limits, on someone's private property, condemned, in a potentially dangerous location or with potentially dangerous environment, etc. If possible and applicable, maybe check public records, geological records, blueprints, age and history, previous owners, etc. DO NOT TRESPASS OR VANDALIZE ON SOMEONE'S PROPERTY - IT IS ILLEGAL. So many groups just go out to a site owned by someone, and just kick in the door or break in a window and go in - this is absolutely unethical and disrespectful, not to mention, miles away from professional or trustworthy.
6. Decide if the site's location or ownership, or the local law enforcement's attitude towards ghost-hunters, presents a problem for your group to investigate - if you think it is necessary or wise, possibly see if there's a way to "register" or let the police/sheriff and town hall know your group is planning on investigating, so they'll at least have a heads-up on who you are if they do come across you - the same with any other property owners around the site (besides the site's owner proper of course), introduce yourselves so they won't be calling the police on you, not knowing why there's a group of people wandering around on the land next to theirs - some groups claim to be doing scientific research, geological surveys, etc. but generally people see through this eventually. Note any laws about trespassing, such as a popular semi-official one that people aren't supposed to be in cemeteries after dark - a group I was with got ran off by the Sheriff for this.
7. Establish what it is you're looking for, and what to do if you find it, what the group's overall attitude is intended to be (aggressive, curious and respectful, provocational etc) - develop policies about timeframes, who is where and when, probably ought to work up some case/site sheets to fill out, with a checklist and area for special notes, and comments, etc. Get organized basically, timetables, things like forms to fill out, sign and date and time and conclusions, etc.
8. When finally on site, before going into the structure itself, familiarize yourself with the surrounding area of the location, it's structural integrity and layout and materials, geographical features, landmarks, highways and roads, streetlights, etc, sources of sounds, typical amount of light available, typical temperature, usual "smells", etc. anything that you would need to know if it was usual for the site - some of this can only be done by visiting the site itself but that should be your last step. Also while doing this on-site prep-work, get a layout of the PEOPLE around there too, get to know their schedules so you'll be disturbing them the least (and vice versa), as people can be nosy.
9. If possible, go do a pre-investigation visit in the daylight so you'll be able to clearly make out the layout of the land and structure, anything that could give you trouble or that you need to be aware of at night, if that is when you're going - no stepping in a hole or on a nail, etc. Go to it. Take note of anything that catches your eye or sticks out in your mind, for whatever reason. Take photos, write things down, record sounds, and your own thoughts, check your watches, see what else you need to note for later reference. Do any rituals or prayers you think necessary before going in, now and before the actual investigations, if you have that sort of tradition. Make certain to note obvious dangers first, including insects that could be a problem, exposed wiring, splinters, crumbling ceiling, rotten steps, etc.
10. Make sure you have a solid "mission statement" or "prime directive" - what it is exactly your group does, how they do it, when, with what equipment, with what mindset, what religious/spiritualist/scientific beliefs and practices, methods of investigating and/or "cleansing", with how much respect, behavior, expected and typical results, ideas and stories and conclusions from any previous investigations to establish experience, policy on personal property damage and privacy, amount of interference in anyone's daily activities, etc. Have this prepared as "fliers" you can hand out to people so they'll have an idea of what they're in for when dealing with your group - names and numbers and such info would be good too, if no one is averse to it being known - make sure to present one of these to any prospective owners of property you're investigating, but also go over it verbally, seeing if they have other questions, and clarifying things. Have them sign, along with yourself, any forms you or they feel are warranted, such as waiver of liability or acceptance of responsibility, notice of express consent for your presence on their property and investigation-related activities, etc. Have everybody sign things that are possible, just so you have as solid paperwork as possible should any questions or disputes arise at any time. Check one more time with the owners for any additional helpful information, questions, comments or concerns or restrictions - write these down if you can't remember them - it is your responsibility to keep your group a functioning and organized entity. Never release the owner/family's name or address without express *written* consent (or legal/law enforcement insistence) - you are a private citizen taken into the trust of another private citizen and are responsible for the confidentiality and privacy of their activities, beliefs, interaction and property.
11. Investigate! Be careful and observant. Account for anything first with mundane, "normal" explanations, if possible, such as roosting birds, rats, headlights from a nearby road, someone burning trash nearby, etc. Alert others to your observations but try not to bias them if possible, just note you saw or heard "something", then if they still can't detect it, reveal the specifics and see if they can afterward. When taking flash pictures and using flashlights, or are going to make noise or cause something to happen, use some mutual phrase to let anyone in the area know you're about to do something that they should be aware of, either for safety reasons or so they won't misinterpret things - one phrase would be "Taking picture", etc. Also, if possible, DO NOT whisper - speak evenly and clearly, as whispering just makes it more likely for people to misinterpret it for a "ghostly" voice - same with walking - don't shuffle or drag your feet, walk deliberately in full steps so as to not make odd noises. If in a home or on premises with other people present, make sure to always account for them and their actions and locations and timetables, and always be polite and helpful and respectful for their rules, religion and family traditions - remember, you are a guest in their house, they have been kind and trusting enough to allow strangers into their home and treat them as guests, so you should do everything you can do minimize your presence there, providing your own food and drink and other necessities or paying for anything you do consume. Don't litter or intentionally move things around without permission and good reason.
12. Regroup at desired time to leave the location. Briefly, quickly write down or otherwise record any personal thoughts or experiences or questions, individually, away from each other if possible. Make sure everything you brought to the site with you is also leaving the site with you, account for all of your personal possessions also, besides the group's equipment. Make sure to repair or adjust anything you did as well as you can before leaving.
13. If not too late, let the owners know you have completed your investigation and will be summarizing your findings and give them a time you'll report to them your conclusions - or wait until the next day if it you would be disturbing their sleep, family activities, etc.
14. Come together later, at home or office or wherever your group meets, to discuss each item in everyone's "lists", so each person's individual viewpoints and conclusions can be considered without being diluted by the other members' ideas. Review any other data such as video or audio also, and discuss it in relation to the earlier session.
15. Meet with the owners/family at a time as convenient for them as possible, and discuss your experiences and conclusions, allowing them to read or view whatever findings you feel are suitable and useful for them to know, take questions and explain and clarify things, see if they have any other questions or concerns, and their opinion of your findings and conclusions. Finally, ask them about your group's personal effect on their life and property during the investigation, what, if anything, went wrong, happened, or behavior that they were displeased or upset about, apologize and try to find ways to ameliorate the situation as best you can, including financial restitution. Once everything is resolved, have them fill out and sign an owner investigation conclusion form, something with their own thoughts about the investigation and group and findings, any good or bad things they have to say, and have them sign it, along with yourself, and keep this for your records, for other people, authorities or other prospective families to look over.
16. Once you have done a few site/location investigations, set up one or more websites or blogs or social networking accounts so you have a presence on the web, if you are interested in expanding and checking out other areas suggested by other people, perhaps asking you to investigate, or people may want help or even want to join, etc. Make sure to put your mission statement front and center, and basic information about your group, like the "bio" sheet mentioned above. List previous investigations and dates and conclusions if advisable and any additional information, how to contact you, any other restrictions or notices, recent news or ongoing investigations, etc. Respond to e-mails, comments and private messages confidently, politely and with an attitude of authentic knowledge when applicable.
This summary was written by Jason J. Patterson, AKA Paranormalcy on UM, website: http://paranormalcy.zanysite.com.
If anyone wants to reproduce this on their site, please include my byline and site link above.
If you're planning on starting your own group, you should at least give this a brief look.
Written by Jason J. Patterson, August 2009
1. Gather your core team members, hopefully that are interested and want to participate consistently, making sure timetables and schedules are understood for each person so you'll know when you can and can't go "ghost hunting" and between what hours.
2. Gather equipment. Flashlights, micro audio recorders, folding chairs, umbrellas, cameras, batteries, videocameras, medical supplies, useful tools, bug repellents and sprays, plastic bags and boxes and plastic containers for collecting anything of interest, maybe even binoculars - and something you should NEVER go out into the field without, a pad of paper and something to write with - if all else fails, you can always write things down, draw pictures, make note of times, temperatures, locations, "feelings", etc. Don't forget appropriate clothing and a blanket or two, toiletries, food, etc., never know what you'll need. Past that will be all the higher-end stuff, digital thermometers, EM/field strength meters, motion sensor arrays, cell-phones/walkie-talkies, night-vision apparatus, whatever you think you can afford and think could be useful - I'd definitely keep everything to a minimum to begin with.
3. Gather information on local areas of interest, activity, myths and stories and legends, and then things further out so you'll have an ongoing, growing, working knowledge of all your nearby possible known locations for paranormal activity. Family, friends and family and friends of those are usually the best places to start, someone usually has a whole untapped resource of local legends, but might never say anything ordinarily. Work outward from here, with people that these original people know, associated, co-workers, bosses, workers, students, teachers, anything somewhat still familiar and close acquantances, then from there maybe go independent, such as to the library, police station or newspaper office, do some research on your own, ask them if they know of any good books and maybe also hint or ask them about anything they know about the area that you could check out, or stories or legends they have heard - they may then know other people with stories or personal experiences and further knowledge, or even yet MORE people to talk to. Any locations too far away for now should still be written down for future reference - you never know!
4. Develop at least a general strategy, of maybe a few different options, for dealing with living people who approach you, either on or off-site, about what you're doing - law enforcement is pretty obvious, but what about neighborhood kids that want to tag along, busybody next-door neighbors, etc.?
5. Check up on (research) any place you're planning on going, or check up first to see if you WANT to go to a place - see if it's off-limits, on someone's private property, condemned, in a potentially dangerous location or with potentially dangerous environment, etc. If possible and applicable, maybe check public records, geological records, blueprints, age and history, previous owners, etc. DO NOT TRESPASS OR VANDALIZE ON SOMEONE'S PROPERTY - IT IS ILLEGAL. So many groups just go out to a site owned by someone, and just kick in the door or break in a window and go in - this is absolutely unethical and disrespectful, not to mention, miles away from professional or trustworthy.
6. Decide if the site's location or ownership, or the local law enforcement's attitude towards ghost-hunters, presents a problem for your group to investigate - if you think it is necessary or wise, possibly see if there's a way to "register" or let the police/sheriff and town hall know your group is planning on investigating, so they'll at least have a heads-up on who you are if they do come across you - the same with any other property owners around the site (besides the site's owner proper of course), introduce yourselves so they won't be calling the police on you, not knowing why there's a group of people wandering around on the land next to theirs - some groups claim to be doing scientific research, geological surveys, etc. but generally people see through this eventually. Note any laws about trespassing, such as a popular semi-official one that people aren't supposed to be in cemeteries after dark - a group I was with got ran off by the Sheriff for this.
7. Establish what it is you're looking for, and what to do if you find it, what the group's overall attitude is intended to be (aggressive, curious and respectful, provocational etc) - develop policies about timeframes, who is where and when, probably ought to work up some case/site sheets to fill out, with a checklist and area for special notes, and comments, etc. Get organized basically, timetables, things like forms to fill out, sign and date and time and conclusions, etc.
8. When finally on site, before going into the structure itself, familiarize yourself with the surrounding area of the location, it's structural integrity and layout and materials, geographical features, landmarks, highways and roads, streetlights, etc, sources of sounds, typical amount of light available, typical temperature, usual "smells", etc. anything that you would need to know if it was usual for the site - some of this can only be done by visiting the site itself but that should be your last step. Also while doing this on-site prep-work, get a layout of the PEOPLE around there too, get to know their schedules so you'll be disturbing them the least (and vice versa), as people can be nosy.
9. If possible, go do a pre-investigation visit in the daylight so you'll be able to clearly make out the layout of the land and structure, anything that could give you trouble or that you need to be aware of at night, if that is when you're going - no stepping in a hole or on a nail, etc. Go to it. Take note of anything that catches your eye or sticks out in your mind, for whatever reason. Take photos, write things down, record sounds, and your own thoughts, check your watches, see what else you need to note for later reference. Do any rituals or prayers you think necessary before going in, now and before the actual investigations, if you have that sort of tradition. Make certain to note obvious dangers first, including insects that could be a problem, exposed wiring, splinters, crumbling ceiling, rotten steps, etc.
10. Make sure you have a solid "mission statement" or "prime directive" - what it is exactly your group does, how they do it, when, with what equipment, with what mindset, what religious/spiritualist/scientific beliefs and practices, methods of investigating and/or "cleansing", with how much respect, behavior, expected and typical results, ideas and stories and conclusions from any previous investigations to establish experience, policy on personal property damage and privacy, amount of interference in anyone's daily activities, etc. Have this prepared as "fliers" you can hand out to people so they'll have an idea of what they're in for when dealing with your group - names and numbers and such info would be good too, if no one is averse to it being known - make sure to present one of these to any prospective owners of property you're investigating, but also go over it verbally, seeing if they have other questions, and clarifying things. Have them sign, along with yourself, any forms you or they feel are warranted, such as waiver of liability or acceptance of responsibility, notice of express consent for your presence on their property and investigation-related activities, etc. Have everybody sign things that are possible, just so you have as solid paperwork as possible should any questions or disputes arise at any time. Check one more time with the owners for any additional helpful information, questions, comments or concerns or restrictions - write these down if you can't remember them - it is your responsibility to keep your group a functioning and organized entity. Never release the owner/family's name or address without express *written* consent (or legal/law enforcement insistence) - you are a private citizen taken into the trust of another private citizen and are responsible for the confidentiality and privacy of their activities, beliefs, interaction and property.
11. Investigate! Be careful and observant. Account for anything first with mundane, "normal" explanations, if possible, such as roosting birds, rats, headlights from a nearby road, someone burning trash nearby, etc. Alert others to your observations but try not to bias them if possible, just note you saw or heard "something", then if they still can't detect it, reveal the specifics and see if they can afterward. When taking flash pictures and using flashlights, or are going to make noise or cause something to happen, use some mutual phrase to let anyone in the area know you're about to do something that they should be aware of, either for safety reasons or so they won't misinterpret things - one phrase would be "Taking picture", etc. Also, if possible, DO NOT whisper - speak evenly and clearly, as whispering just makes it more likely for people to misinterpret it for a "ghostly" voice - same with walking - don't shuffle or drag your feet, walk deliberately in full steps so as to not make odd noises. If in a home or on premises with other people present, make sure to always account for them and their actions and locations and timetables, and always be polite and helpful and respectful for their rules, religion and family traditions - remember, you are a guest in their house, they have been kind and trusting enough to allow strangers into their home and treat them as guests, so you should do everything you can do minimize your presence there, providing your own food and drink and other necessities or paying for anything you do consume. Don't litter or intentionally move things around without permission and good reason.
12. Regroup at desired time to leave the location. Briefly, quickly write down or otherwise record any personal thoughts or experiences or questions, individually, away from each other if possible. Make sure everything you brought to the site with you is also leaving the site with you, account for all of your personal possessions also, besides the group's equipment. Make sure to repair or adjust anything you did as well as you can before leaving.
13. If not too late, let the owners know you have completed your investigation and will be summarizing your findings and give them a time you'll report to them your conclusions - or wait until the next day if it you would be disturbing their sleep, family activities, etc.
14. Come together later, at home or office or wherever your group meets, to discuss each item in everyone's "lists", so each person's individual viewpoints and conclusions can be considered without being diluted by the other members' ideas. Review any other data such as video or audio also, and discuss it in relation to the earlier session.
15. Meet with the owners/family at a time as convenient for them as possible, and discuss your experiences and conclusions, allowing them to read or view whatever findings you feel are suitable and useful for them to know, take questions and explain and clarify things, see if they have any other questions or concerns, and their opinion of your findings and conclusions. Finally, ask them about your group's personal effect on their life and property during the investigation, what, if anything, went wrong, happened, or behavior that they were displeased or upset about, apologize and try to find ways to ameliorate the situation as best you can, including financial restitution. Once everything is resolved, have them fill out and sign an owner investigation conclusion form, something with their own thoughts about the investigation and group and findings, any good or bad things they have to say, and have them sign it, along with yourself, and keep this for your records, for other people, authorities or other prospective families to look over.
16. Once you have done a few site/location investigations, set up one or more websites or blogs or social networking accounts so you have a presence on the web, if you are interested in expanding and checking out other areas suggested by other people, perhaps asking you to investigate, or people may want help or even want to join, etc. Make sure to put your mission statement front and center, and basic information about your group, like the "bio" sheet mentioned above. List previous investigations and dates and conclusions if advisable and any additional information, how to contact you, any other restrictions or notices, recent news or ongoing investigations, etc. Respond to e-mails, comments and private messages confidently, politely and with an attitude of authentic knowledge when applicable.
This summary was written by Jason J. Patterson, AKA Paranormalcy on UM, website: http://paranormalcy.zanysite.com.
If anyone wants to reproduce this on their site, please include my byline and site link above.
