Getting Started
1.) Here is the stone.
Paranormal investigation is not a career?
Paranormal investigation is not a career most organizations are non profit groups considered by our community as a public service or a hobby. Some groups like ours may ask for donations for equipment and travel expenses and we may not always get it. 90% of our equipment and so forth are by membership dues and our own pockets.
Paranormal investigation does not pay squat. In fact, it costs a lot. Equipment, gas, tapes, batteries, cools jackets with your group name on them, etc. So, do not expect to get into the field to get rich. If you do keep in mind down the road when your house, car, assets even your wife or girlfriend get repossessed. Note: Always log and keep track of everything, most pieces of equipment have extended warranties and it also helps you from messing up your bank account like I have numerous times forgetting to log my purchases.
2.) Schooling.
If you want to take up paranormal investigation as a hobby, then goes to school for something that can pay the bills, AND be of use in the paranormal research field. Forensic science, psychology, or construction are some good ones, along with maybe some computer, film, or, heck, even plumbing knowledge will give you the skills that will both, put food on the table, and make you valuable to your group.
3.) Grave Yards.
Sure it seems logical that ghosts would be found in graveyards…. I guess… but often people make the mistake of thinking that if many people died in a location that there HAS to be ghosts. While that CAN be true, it is not a fact. Here is a question: How many people do you know that have actually died in a graveyard? Not many. Most people are dead for around 3 days before they are buried.
4.) Stay Legal.
Most of the time, it is illegal for anyone to be in a cemetery after dark. In addition, just because no one lives or works in a building, does not mean it is fair game for investigating. If you are caught trespassing, your time as a respectable paranormal investigator is over.
5.) How Do I Start?
Since graveyards are out, then how do you get started? The best way is to find a friend or a relative of someone in your group that feels they might have a haunting. This is ideal because you can practice your techniques without having to worry about screwing up and upsetting a client. If this scenario is not available to you, then find another group in your area and see if they are willing to have, you shadow them on a few investigations. If you do this, remember that it is THEIR case and you are just a fly on the wall. If THAT is not available then there are often public places that are known to be haunted where trespassing is not an issue. In addition, there are some places that will allow you to take a “ghost tour” for a nominal fee. This is the last option though, as you often have to weed through a lot of oobie-doobie spooky nonsense, but at least you get the chance to try out your equipment.
6.) Equipment? What Do I Need?
Do not get blinded by the equipment you see us using on the show. All you really need to get started is a camcorder with night shot or infrared. An additional infrared illuminator that attaches to the top of the camera will help out greatly.
An audio recorder of any type will help too. Make sure that if you get an analog recorder (one that uses a tape) that you also purchase an external mic. Otherwise, you will get some nasty noise from the gears in the machine.
What? No EMF detector? Nope, that can wait. EMF detectors do not find ghosts. They find false positives. We scan areas that claim to produce spooky feelings with an EMF detector in order to find a legitimate electromagnetic field. Fields with a really high reading can produce effects in people that mimic paranormal activity. For instance, paranoia, dizziness, nausea, and that general creeped out I don’t want to go in there feeling.
In addition, try to avoid still cameras? Camera’s are great and all, but claiming you have paranormal activity caught in one still photo is like reading one paragraph of a book and pretending you know the whole story. You just do not know what led up to that picture being taken.
7.) Pick Me!
How do you get your name out there? Well, most importantly, by doing a frigging good job. If you are professional and down-to-earth, your name will spread fast enough. Other than that, make a well thought out web site. One that is professional and not filled with bloody fonts, creepy music and flaming skulls flying at you. Think about it, if you were genuinely terrified in your home and you needed help, do you think you would be comforted by a barrage of flaming skulls?
8.) Salt, Lots of Salt.
Does not believe everything you hear. There is very little fact in this field. It is populated primarily with theories. Face it; you cannot recreate this stuff in a lab, yet. Therefore, you have to study it when you can, and that is not often.
Therefore, there really are not any experts. There are many people who will claim they are experts, but that is another story. We just cannot guarantee that there is one person who is doing it 100% correctly. In other words, gather information from where ever you can, filter through your own ideas and ideals, take the good and leave the bad. In addition, take it all with, not a grain, but a huge frigging’ block of salt.
Well, there you have it. Some decent tips to get you started in the field of paranormal investigation. I hope they help you out.
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