City of Clovis, California
Dec 19th or 20th 2009

Remember the infamous voice saying, "I like the one in the hat?"  That was here!  Investigate with Robb Demarest, Amy Bruni and Britt Griffith

 

 

City of Cooperstown, New York
January 8th thru 11th 2010

Investigate with Jay and Grant - AND visit the baseball hall of fame!

.. ..

Hey everyone!

Since I magically appeared on Ghost Hunters last year, I've been receiving a lot of questions from people wondering who the heck I am and where I came from. Unfortunately, it's not often that I'm near a real computer, so it's hard for me to answer my myspace messages with any sort of regularity...but I do read them all, promise. 

I've decided to answer a few of the most frequent questions I receive, right here in this fancy lil' blog. 

And away we go....

*How did you get involved with TAPS?

I am from Northern California and was an investigator with a TAPS Family group in that area for awhile. Through my involvement with them, I met Grant. Shortly thereafter, I was brought on as Program Director for TAPS Family Radio, a podcast the TAPS Family puts on weekly. After just a couple months of that, Jason and Grant asked me to become involved in their radio show, Beyond Reality Radio. BRR took a lot of work, so we were constantly in contact with each other and we all became close friends, (that's how I met Kris Williams and Grant's wife, Reanna - two of my best girlfriends!) Considering the Beyond Reality Radio show centered a lot on paranormal topics, it didn't take long for Jason and Grant to realize I had a lot of the same views on the paranormal as they do and that it is something I'm very passionate about. When they started kicking around the idea of having a 6th core member, it was important to them that it be someone they knew they would all mesh with and who had the ability to be on the road for long periods of time. I guess I fit that bill and they asked me. :)

*Did you relocate to the East Coast? The episodes say you're a member of TAPS West.

A few months before I joined the show, I left the TAPS Family group I was with and helped Jason and Grant start a TAPS West division. But yes, I have pretty much relocated to the East Coast now. It's a good time in my life for a change of scenery and I'm pretty lucky because I already have a ton of friends out here.  I get to go "home home" to California about once every 6 weeks or so, for holidays, etc.

*How can someone get started in the paranormal?

Read, read, read! Start with building some base knowledge on the subject. There is a lot to learn in this field, including the history of where it all began. I suggest these books to start with:

Ghost Hunting: How to Investigate the Paranormal by Loyd Auerbach

Ghost Hunter's Guidebook: The Essential Guide to Investigating Ghosts and Hauntings by Troy Taylor

Communicating with the Dead by Jeff Belanger

And here is a new one that is pretty awesome too:

Picture Yourself Ghost Hunting by Chris Balzano

Beyond those, read some books on Psychology and *gasp* even some books by skeptics. Use the internet and join some forums to talk to other people about theories and ideas - TAPS has a great forum, Ghostvillage.com is another - even the folks over at randi.org love to debate in a mature manner and it's good for you to see both sides, (in my opinion anyway.)

Once you've got some base knowledge, seek out local teams or others who have the same interests as you. If you can't join up with a team, get a group of friends together and start small. Investigate your own homes, friends homes...then go from there. If you're having trouble finding a local group, start with TAPS Family Groups in your area, you can find a listing at www.the-atlantic-paranormal-society.com. Even if they aren't bringing on new investigators, most of them know local groups in their area who are.

*Can you please review this picture, video, audio recording, etc and let me know what you think?

Unfortunately, I can't comfortably comment on evidence if I wasn't there when it was collected. Not to mention, I get so many pictures and what not sent to me, it's tough to look at them all with the attention they deserve. Luckily, there are SO many great TAPS Family groups out there, you have many resources available to you other than lil' ol' me. Not to mention, I really haven't been investigating the paranormal for that long - just about three years in any sort of professional capacity. I've read just about every book out there, and I'm continually learning from the best in the field, but there are many others who are quite accessible who have just as much or a lot more experience than me. :)

Paranormal conferences can be an amazing experience.  They’re a chance for the general public, novice and experienced investigators alike, to convene, investigate and learn.  When well organized, they can go off without a hitch.  But I stress the words – well organized.

It’s tempting when you run the numbers.  “If I have this many people paying this much to attend – I can break even or even make a little extra for my time.”  You book some speakers, get a hotel lined up, make a web site and VOILA!  Event!  

It’s not that easy and I’m afraid this is why so many events are going under.  If you don’t have event planning and/or marketing experience – don’t attempt it.   Sending myspace bulletins and blogs is not enough to sell your event.  You need to market it to the general public, not just paranormal enthusiasts.  Paranormal investigators are inundated with the opportunity to go on events.  Lectures, conferences, public investigations, ghost tours – they’re everywhere – a dime a dozen. 

Together with Britt Griffith, I formed Beyond Reality Events.  We sell out regularly, (and occasionally take a loss), but you wouldn’t believe the behind the scenes work it takes to keep these events going.  It’s a full time job for both of us and it’s definitely not easy.   Sometimes I wonder what the hell we’re thinking, lol.  :)

I wish there was a magic formula for making a conference stick.  There isn’t.  And the more that go under or are severely cut back at the last minute, the worse our field looks. 

If you’re going to plan a paranormal conference, I urge you to think long and hard about it first.  I’ve seen people go bankrupt, lose their savings, and go behind on house payments trying to keep conferences afloat.  It’s a huge gamble and not worth the risk unless you’re absolutely positive you know what you’re doing. 

There is nothing I like to see more than successful conferences that open the public’s eyes to paranormal research and what we do.   They’re an essential element to immersing people in our field, even if just for a day or two.  Please, let’s not abuse this opportunity.

Hey all, Due to circumstances beyond my control, I will not be attending the Haunted Hills event this weekend. I wish I could have made it, hope everyone attending has a good time! Best, Amy

Hey all,

Mike Brody is doing a daily blog from Mount Washington and it's a great way to keep up on the haps out here!

Here's the first day wrap up for ya:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=32219385&blogID=483938320

Enjoy! We're having a blast out here!

xo,

~a

Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it, I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry, or think badly about others, I am going to benefit others as much as I can.

- The XIVth Dalai Lama

These words really resonated with me today. I hope you like them too. :)

Everyone have a great weekend please!

xoxo,

~a