I feel I need to address something about investigating which has been side stepped. ( Not addressed at all).
Commercial vs Residential
We love to watch all the TV shows investigate commercial business's. Bed and Breakfasts, Museums, Ships, Pubs, Even Gettysburg is a tourist attraction these days.
It benefits business owners to allow teams to converge on their properties and investigate. In most cases many businesses would perish if it were not for this financial shot in the are. Paranormal Teams are business. They are willing to pay to investigate businesses.
That being the case, one must accept that thousands of teams will take advantage of "The Ghosts of Gettysburg". The Queen Mary, Winchester House, Waverly Hills.
Convention after Convention will be organized in these venues. Speakers are paid to appear at these conventions. Some of the new Stars of the Paranormal command a few thousand dollars to appear at a convention.
Pretty much its a hay day for the paranormal enthusiast. Any Business or historical venue is fair game. Our team stayed at the Jean Bonnet Tavern in Bedford, PA. The next weekend Rose Mary Ellen Guiley stayed there.
Thats alright. Its not a private residence.
When a family is in crises I get called. I get calls at 1 am. They are afraid of their own homes. Homes are different from businesses. Homes are considered our safe place our sanctuary.
When some one feels so threatened that they look for help something is terribly wrong. That doesn't mean its paranormal. It could be an over active imagination or it could be abuse. Mental illness or some sort of environmental problem.
Theres even a chance its a spirit and living person are having a problem cohabitating.
There is a difference between investigating a business or historic venue and investigating a private residence. One is designed to have many groups take advantage of it . The residence is not designed to have multiple groups traipsing about in it.
Residences require guidelines.
1. The owner must decide on whom they are having in.
This means they need to review the investigators qualifications.
Owning equipment does not make some one qualified to investigate a residential haunting. Neither does being in a book, writing a book, having a website, Hosting a radio show or putting a neat title before your name.
For a reasonable fee I can become The Rev Moebanshee of some church on the internet. All I must do is promise to do good. I do not need to take tests or have a degree in theology. I don't even have to own a Bible! I will ask you all to address me as Rev Moe. No fear. I am not that desperate to have people kiss me arse.
I have seen so many Organizations pop up its ludicrous. Be part of the "I don't know jack but I have teams in 13 states and 4 countries" .org. I call these people collectors. They have studied the "How to create a network and look like a real investigator" instruction manual. How can you not join them? How can they not know what they are doing? Teams are banging on their doors to host their "I belong to a complete sham" banner!
Reality check:
People seeking help should look for some one with experience and a solid reputation. Most people who come to www.asylumcam.com find I have been here since the site started. I have advised many people on the site. I have never had to hand a case off to some one else. On a private level; I have been helping people for over 30 years now. This does not mean I am authority in Paranormal activity. It means I have experience. There are no authorities. Hans Holzer never referred to himself as an authority.
Just because some one says "Oh yea I have handled too many cases to remember" doesn't mean they have. The client needs to do some research. It's kind of like a doctor or dentist. You try to find some one who has had knee replacements. You ask who performed the surgery and their feelings about the out come. If they are in a wheel chair your not going to go to that doctor.
I love my doctors but when I ask for a referral I do not just go to whom they tell me to go to. I check the suggested Dr out.
Today the INTERNET can make brain surgeons out of amateurs. All people have to do is say "I am good" and people are banging at there doors.
I tell people if you need help call me. If I can't get there I will find some one I trust and refer you to them. This doesn't let the individual off the hook.
2. Persistence
I tell clients, "If you are not happy with what a investigator is doing, tell them thank you but I need a second opinion".
This doesn't mean having multiple teams investigation your home.
(You had to know that at some point I would get back to this).
Only one team or investigator can work a residential haunting at a time. Residences are not designed to have rotating teams sorting through a haunting.
Families have to trust the person helping them. If indeed there are spirits, they also need to trust the investigator. This means developing a rapport with the investigator. Having to many people handling a case will lead to confusion, distention and frustration. You say potato, I say potato; you say tomato, I say tomato. Only we pronounce it different.
Some clients kind of get caught up in the "Oh this is cool" and start inviting more than one team to take a look. Theres nothing wrong with a second opinion if things are not going well. If your in the same trouble you were in the beginning, maybe a second opinion is needed. (Remember I asked Ken Dell to double check my findings?) On the other hand if things have stabilized having another investigator come in could confuse things.
Clients need to act responsibly. Right now every one and their Uncle wants to get on TV as "Ghost Hunter" . The economy is tanking and some people think "Paranormal Investigation" is the answer to their empty wallet. I wish it were that easy.
An inexperienced investigator can upset the apple cart. It can cause activity which was not present before.
(If you want to become a investigator: Join an experienced group of investigators before hanging out your shingle).
Clients: do some research before playing Russian Roulette with your family.
Once you find a reputable investigator, stop inviting others to take a look. Its your home not Grand Central Station. If you are uncertain about an investigators methods do research and ask some one with experience.
Investigators: If you know a team is working a case. Respect that investigators work. To many groups are claim jumping cases. This is dangerous for the client and its rude. Find another way to get cases.
As long as I am here:
I don't have P**sing contests with other investigators or groups. I don't make myself look good by making others look foolish. There seems to be a new trend. Building ones self up by destroying others. Enough already.
I try to afford others the same respect I would want for myself and my team.
I will help any one I can.
Lately; I have noticed that meeting another team means comparing equipment and being dragged into a P**sing contest. Equipment does not make the team. The way the team uses the equipment is the defining factor. Their ability to interpret the information and apply it to the case.
I am fast becoming bored with groups pointing out they have "sooooo much equipment." I am tired of hearing who they are affiliated with before they ask me how I am doing or why the blood is running down my hand. My point is; come to me as another investigator not the competition. Instead of making sure you tell me about your infrared cameras and your ten cases of electronics tell me how your trip was.
It truly is getting tiresome meeting people who's first question is "What kind of equipment do you have?"