During my Paranormal Day Paracon Livestream with Alex Matsuo, a viewer asked for some advice. Chanda Lanier wrote:
“If they don’t cancel I’m attending a ghost hunt with an all female group of paranormal researchers in Nashville in July….or later if rescheduled. What’s the best things I can do prior to that night?”
At first I mistakenly interpreted it that she was hosting her first event and was looking for advice on how to make it successful.
Luckily she was patient with me and once she realized where my disconnect was, she explained:
“No I’m not hosting. And right now I’m not sure if it’s going to get postponed since it was supposed to happen July 11….a group is investigating the Buchanan Log House, other house on property and graves. As an newbie to this I just wanted to know how I should prepare other than just showing up. Is there anything I should bring with me? That kind of stuff. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.”
Ah! Okay I was finally on the same page. Here’s what I wrote back:
OH!!!! That sounds like an amazing time and off the top of my head…if you’re going to be outside in July maybe bug spray? But I don’t know if mosquitoes are active at dark? I just know they like me. lol Extras of batteries for any equipment or power banks for cells and stuff. Water. BUT…this makes for a fun question so I’m going to ask some of my friends and see what they say too. So thanks for giving me this idea!
And that’s what I did. I explained the situation and asked eight of my paranormal investigating ghoulfriends what advice they would give and here’s what they said.
Alex Matsuo, Author The Brave Mortal’s Guide to Ghost Hunting
Bring your enthusiasm and passion!
I would also bring a pen/pencil, and notebook so you can take notes on what you see.
If you don’t want to spend a ton of money on equipment, you can get away with using your phone as a recording device in a pinch.
Wear closed-toe shoes, bring a jacket in case it gets chilly, and a flashlight.
You might also want to consider having a first aid kit in your car just in case you (or something else) gets some bumps and bruises.
Finally, I recommend doing research on the location beforehand so you have an idea of who or what you may be trying to communicate with. If you believe you have abilities, then I recommend not researching so you can be “cold” on the information. Have fun!
Alex’s website: https://alexmatsuo.com/
Amanda Woomer, Spook Eats
Don’t feel like you need to drop a small fortune on equipment in order to have a successful investigation. Many times, beginners think they need fancy toys like full spectrum/IR cameras, portals, etc. The best tool (aside from your body) is your phone. I don’t recommend any “ghost hunting” apps as I’m not sure how legit they are. However, there are so many apps already installed on your phone that you can use: a voice recorder (for EVPs), a camera, and a flashlight. I’ve gotten some of my best evidence from just my phone and the best part is, I didn’t have to spend any extra money on it (plus it fits in my pocket which helps me travel light).
I’d also recommend researching the location. Some people prefer to go into a place “blind.” But I find that knowing names, dates, and details can only help you on the investigation (especially during evidence review).
Remember to take your time, read the room, and observe (preferably in the corner of a room so nothing happens behind you and you miss it). Remember hat real investigations are nothing like on TV, but if you’re in it for the right reasons, it can be just as fascinating and fun!
Amanda’s website: https://spookeats.com/
Deedee Jebrail, Illusions from the Side of the Road
Good camera, not expensive, just good in all types of light. Some cameras get blurry in bright light. some are bad in dim light. iPhones are good to start with if it’s all you have. Test out your camera ahead of time to see how it reacts to different light scenarios. Dress in layers and comfortable shoes.
Deedee’s website: https://illusionsfromthesideoftheroad.blogspot.com/
Kitsie Duncan, Oddity Files
Here’s my quick advice for your friend.
Go in with an attitude of calm. Treat the spirits with respect. Talk to them like you would meeting anyone for the first time.
Absolutely bring a flashlight. Try an EVP session with the recording app on your phone. Try searching for a spirit box app on your phone as well. But keep in mind, the apps are all created for entertainment value, and aren’t always successful.
Most importantly, have fun. That’s what this is all about!
Kitsie’s website: https://oddityfiles.com/
Kris Sumner, Soul Sisters Paranormal
I feel that in order to be a successful paranormal investigator, you need three things besides just equipment.
The first is that you need to have the right intentions. By that, I mean that you should go into an investigation with a true sense of either wanting to help, find answers, or validate the stories of the location; going in “just to be scared” should really not be a valid reason to be a paranormal investigator.
The second thing that you need is patience. It takes time to fully investigate a location, and sometimes, even after hours, you will not see, hear or experience anything. That is ok; just stick with it and eventually you will be able to start documenting compelling evidence.
And, third, do your research beforehand; know the background of what you are investigating so that you can prepare yourself with the equipment that you need and the questions that you should ask to guide the investigation.
Bonus #4: take a lot of batteries!
Kris’s website: https://www.soulsistersparanormal.com/
Miranda Young, Ghost Biker Explorations
First off, I would have to say that it’s important to bring an open-mind, patience and the expectation that anything or nothing could happen. Sometimes, I feel people go into a location expecting it to be like it is shown on TV and they may get disappointed when it’s not as active as they might have hoped it would be. Also, just because it doesn’t seem very active, doesn’t mean that things aren’t happening. I’ve gone on many investigations that have felt quiet and upon reviewing evidence, I’ve found that things were actually happening that I wasn’t aware of. This is where have a good recorder comes in. If I was going to suggest what tools a newbie should bring, I would suggest a dictation recorder and good camera. For me documentation is the most important thing of all and these are the best tools for it. Plus, most people already have them and they aren’t expensive very expensive to acquire. Keep it simple and have fun with it!
Miranda’s website: https://ghostbikerexp.wixsite.com/ghostbiker
Penny Griffiths-Morgan, Haunted Histories
“Great question, you could quite easily buy every gadget going before your first investigation and then spend the entire time focussing on them and missing the more intricate signs going on around you. My advice should probably be (as a historian!) to read up on the place beforehand to have an idea of things to ask the spirits, but do you know what I’m going to say? do nothing, just go along with a positive non confrontational mindset and relax. The only thing I would take? notepad and pen (and a torch obviously) so that you can write everything down, no matter how trivial it seems, it’s amazing how much you forget after the event.
Penny’s website: https://www.hauntedhistories.co.uk/
Sara Villani, VP paRanormal
For my piece of advice for a first time investigation….NO expectations. Take it all in, the real, the unreal, every feeling, every non-feeling. Listen to what’s said/how’s it said and what’s not said. From there you begin to build your own philosophy/beliefs/openness to what may be reaching out behind the veil.
Sara’s team doesn’t have a website but you can find them on these socials: https://www.facebook.com/VP-paRanormal-227675823941479/, https://twitter.com/gHOstS40, https://www.instagram.com/gals_of_vpparnormal/?hl=en
Check-In
What advice would you offer? Same as any of the investigators, or would you add anything else?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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Hi Courtney,
Recently while thinking, for the sake of nostalgia, I was going to ask you about your own memories concerning some particular ghostly themed docu-series that aired in the past.
Then, upon my last visit to hauntjaunts.net, I happened to notice that you had devoted an entire article to, I believe, ten of these kinds of shows that have made it to networks over the years. The piece was marvelously put together.
The comments were closed in the article, so if you don’t mind, I moved over here to post. I think the relevance somewhat ties in with the subject matter of this blog entry, as well. Your treatment of the show, “Haunted Lives,” was outstanding, and it brought me more up to speed on the show’s history.
The episode of, “Haunted Lives,” that stuck with me the most involved the tale of Kyle and Rita Mathison and the home they occupied in Van Nuys. The original air date was 1992, during which time I was an undergraduate in anthropology, and I happened to see the show in its inaugural broadcast. Although, back then, I would go on to write a paper in a folklore class involving comparative ghost stories on college campuses, at that time, I did not devote any time to thinking critically about claims of the paranormal that are submitted to the public. But, the reason I mentally catalogued this particular episode was because of the footage introduced by an interviewed field investigator whose name I have been familiar with ever since then. One of my mentors cites him in one of his books. Anyway, upon seeing the footage for the first time, even though I never saw myself as someday pursuing the topic in any fashion, I was still left with the impression that I should be able to better address such productions in a credible way. No one was pressing me into such a conviction. The thought simply existed in my mind. And, the footage was incredibly overt, and claiming to turn the natural world, as we know it, on its very head. Little did I know, that footage, retroactively, would later come to serve as an example for how I would come back to working towards learning how to better think about the world about me, and to be highly careful when evidence is presented as being sound. That footage is easily replicable, and needs to be held against some questions that are not far beyond that of grade school physics. It’s easy to scoff and dismiss. Such is not the central aim. What IS the chief aim is to sensibly and responsibly defend, or question, a position with logic, data, and an understanding of what good science is.
Anyway, thank you, Courtney, for your good work. The information you provide in your efforts will always serve as a helpful resource. I can better keep an understanding on trends and mindsets that are of current standing. Thank you for keeping me enlightened.
Have a great evening,
Blaine Thompson
Hi Blaine!
I don’t know why sometimes my site closes comments arbitrarily. I’m glad you let me know about that in addition to leaving more details on a show with a connection to your mindset. And things that make you go, “Hmm.”
Of course now I want to go check out the episode and see who and what you’re talking about! lol
As always, thank YOU for taking the time to leave a comment!