Ed and Lorraine Warren have been — together and as individuals — vital to the development and popularity of this field.  Without their work, I don’t think there would be a “Ghost Hunters” TV show, etc.

I can say the same about Hans Holzer, Andrei Puharich, and many other 19- and 20th-century paranormal researchers, too.

However, I’m not overlooking some problems with their early research techniques.  We learn through trial-and-error:  There will be errors — and plenty of them — while any field is becoming understood and codified.

My articles (published in 2000, before ghost hunting developed its current popularity) about one of Ed and Lorraine’s first investigations — the Ocean-Born Mary story — are an example of early research problems.

Ocean-Born Mary’s Ghost
Spoiler: The Truth about Ocean-Born Mary

However, we’re looking back on research in the mid 20th century. It’s easy to forget how little was available to paranormal researchers in that era.

Ed and Lorraine didn’t have the Internet as a resource, and they didn’t have my 30+ years of experience with historical and genealogical research.  It’s easy to point out the shortcomings of others, when they didn’t (or don’t) have the resources that can make a huge difference in how a story is told.

PARANORMAL BUSINESS MODELS

I was sometimes troubled by the business model that Ed and Lorraine used, and said so at the time.  However, there are no simple answers to the money issue.

In a perfect world, spiritual researchers — including ghost hunters — would be supported as many religions have been, by voluntary donations from their believers.  Without that kind of funding, it’s difficult to work in this field.

However, between cynicism and a tightening economy, even established churches are struggling to pay their bills.  So, voluntary donations can be an unrealistic expectation in the paranormal field.

I also feel that we can offer products and services to people, so they get something tangible for their money.  That can be a happier solution to the issue… but it’s not without problems.

Many people view our work as spiritual, and accuse us of being mercenary when we try to recover the money we spend on research, which is largely unseen by the public.  Also, they may not realize what it costs us to travel to help clients… many of whom have reached such a desperate emotional state (from living with hauntings or even demon attacks), they’ve already lost their jobs.

Our options are limited, and some are slippery slopes.

OUR FINANCIAL OPTIONS

We can become “entertainers” …which can sometimes require duplicity in order to build and maintain a fan following, or to meet the demands of ruthless managers and over-zealous producers.

We can charge significant fees from clients who are able to afford it; the recent poll at HollowHill.com showed that some people are doing that, though they are in the minority.

We can sell our writing, conduct classes and workshops, or seek other, field-related ways to earn a living.  However, it can be difficult for some people to maintain integrity there, as well.

Or, we can maintain our regular jobs, though that takes valuable time away from our research and the time we could use helping others.

As I said, there are no easy answers to this dilemma.

THE WARRENS’ LEGACY

In recent years, I’ve softened my views towards 20th-century pioneers in paranormal studies.  Each of them has left an important legacy that remains an essential element in what we do in this field, today.

I am grateful to Ed and Lorraine Warren for facing the skeptics and vehement critics, and maintaining a firm belief in what they were doing.  I’m thankful that they conducted so much research, and were forthright about what they did and the conclusions that they reached.

Their integrity has made it possible for us to go back and review their work in the light of additional facts and tools developed in the 40 or so years since they began studying ghosts and haunted places.

This field wouldn’t be where it is without people like them, and we owe them a debt of gratitude.

FLAWED RESEARCH?

Were their methods perfect?  No.  (In fact, our methods still aren’t perfect.) They did the best that they could with the tools that they had, and what little was understood about normal and paranormal phenomena, in that era.

For example, no one carried an EMF meter during early ghost hunts.  Researchers weren’t aware that elevated EMF — from very normal sources — can disorient people and cause them to behave in odd ways.

Today, we check for electrical wiring and other sources of EMF, before leaping to any conclusions about paranormal influences.

In the early 21st century, we’re closer to understanding ghosts and hauntings, but I expect we’ll be harshly criticized by those who follow us 20, 40, or 100 years from now.

MY PERSONAL OPINIONS

When someone asks my personal opinion of Ed and Lorraine Warren as a ghost hunting team, I must reply in three parts:

At first, I was dazzled by them.  In the mid-to-late 20th century, they were pioneers in a very exciting field.

When I later examined their work, using tools available decades later, I was disappointed when I could disprove some of what they said.  That cast a harsh light on their work.  Things that I’d believed as a child turned out to be false, and that can embitter anyone.

Fortunately, I continued my research and reached a more balanced perspective on 19th- and 20th-century paranormal research.

Today, looking back on people like the Warrens and their contributions to this field, I’m tremendously grateful for their work.  I was merely an “early adopter” of this research; they were among the discoverers of many things that ghost hunters now take for granted.

AMITYVILLE CHANGED EVERYTHING

The name “Amityville Horror” wouldn’t be as well-known as it is, without the Warrens.

No matter what you think of that investigation, the Warrens were instrumental in bringing ghosts and hauntings to the world’s attention.  They opened the door for anyone — with or without prior experience in this field — to conduct paranormal research and share their results with others.

That research and those shared results have contributed significantly to what we know about ghosts and hauntings.  And, by making ghost research more accessible to everyone, pioneers such as the Warrens built the foundation for our work today.

That is their true legacy, and I’m grateful for it.

These were the results:

Among those who’ve talked with me about how much they charge, most echo the poll results.  They don’t charge the client anything at all, or — if travel expenses are involved — they ask the client to pay for gas and to arrange lodging.

Those who charge over $200 were also very forthcoming.  The figure that I’ve heard most often is $350 plus expenses, though that can increase if the team is large.  Four-figure amounts are not rare, when the team includes professionals or six or more people.

This is a topic that’s difficult to discuss, even among professionals who otherwise agree on most everything.

Some say, “You get what you pay for.”  Others insist that investigations are an essential part of our research, and must be financed however the individual (or team) covers other expenses related to this work.

I think the poll speaks for itself, in understanding the financial side of investigations.

If someone is troubled by an apparent haunting in his or her home, it’s probably easy to find a team that will conduct the research free of charge.

If someone wants to hire a professional team, the fees are likely to be $200+ for that service.

No matter who is investigating, I encourage homeowners to check references carefully, and not just the rave reviews by friends of the individual or team.  Learn the best — and worst — that’s said about the researchers you’re considering. Then, make an educated decision.

• What kinds of cemeteries to investigate.
• How to find haunted cemeteries near your home.
• What to look for when you get there.
• How to tell when a cemetery is worth a second (and third) visit.

In my 25-page report, Finding and Evaluating Haunted Cemeteries, I explain how I find cemeteries in any community, and the reasons why I choose some for investigations… but ignore others.

Here’s what you’ll download immediately.

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• A second short recording, Evaluating Haunted Cemeteries (available only until July 15th)
• My conversation with psychic paranormal researcher, Sean Paradis, sharing his tips for finding and exploring the “hot spots” in haunted cemeteries. (Recorded while we were investigating haunted Old North Cemetery — and the Minot Enclosure — in Concord, NH.)
• My personal worksheet for evaluating cemeteries, and an instruction sheet to help you get the most from it. You can copy this form for your own use, and share it with your team.

Order your copy before July 15th to receive both short recordings as well as the 25+ page report, the worksheet with instructions, the audio version of the report, and my recorded conversation with Sean Paradis.

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Entertainers appear in the media, and/or they’re paid guests at events and at “investigations.”  Their primary standard isn’t necessarily truth.  They are there to entertain you.

If you enjoy their performances, they’ve succeeded and their careers grow.  If they don’t, they fade away, reinvent themselves, or shift to another line of work.

Their primary job is to create an illusion so the audience suspends disbelief long enough to enjoy the performance, regardless of its foundation in truth.

David Blaine is one of many entertainers who appear to be working mystical feats.   He correctly describes himself as an illusionist.

Researchers conduct studies and look for breakthroughs in paranormal studies.  Their standard is integrity.

Most researchers don’t care if they entertain anyone.

They report their research in papers and reports, at websites and conferences, and in books.

Some researchers’ writing, or the tools and techniques that they develop, become far more famous than the developers’ names.

Bill Chappell is the inventor of the Ovilus and the Puck, but more people recognize the tools’ names than his.

I consider myself a researcher, not an entertainer.  I say, “Fiona Broome” and people may look confused.  I mention HollowHill.com and they suddenly recognize me.  (Frankly, I like it that my work is better known than “Fiona Broome.”)

The grey area between entertainers and paranormal researchers  is wide.

• An entertainer may have (or develop) a genuine interest or gifts in the field of paranormal research.
• An entertainer may discover that his (or her) audience expects the entertainer to be a genuine psychic or researcher.
• Researchers may appear at events or public “investigations” to lend credibility to them.  (For the record: Sometimes we’re paid; more often, we’re not.)
• A researcher on a TV show or at an event may be pressured to produce (fake) results for the audience, as if he (or she) is an entertainer.  Generally, researchers won’t fake anything.

John Zaffis is a good example of someone who works in both research and entertainment.  He’s a respected researcher and demonologist, and has been for many years before ghost hunting became popular.   He appears at events and talks about the reality of spirits and demons.  His manner of speaking is entertaining… but he’s presenting the results of genuine research.

However, “his” character in the movie, The Haunting in Connecticut, bears little resemblance to John Zaffis or the role he played in the real investigation.  (The movie represents John as a priest with an entirely different name.)

That’s an extreme example of how different entertainment and research can be.

If you want to know the true story of that incident, see A Haunting in Connecticut when it’s repeated on the Discovery Channel, or see it on DVD.

A Haunting in Connecticut
Price: USD 4.49

13 used & new available from USD 2.80

Before evaluating any event or “investigation’ that you attend, it’s important to adjust your expectations.  For the past 15+ years, I’ve said in my Guidelines for ghost hunters, ”…if someone is charging you money as if they’re providing a show… perhaps they are.”

Keep in mind that there’s a difference between a con artist and an entertainer.  In most cases, the entertainer separates his (or her) role, on stage, from what’s true in his personal life.  The lines may blur, but there’s no fraud involved.

Con artists

A very wide gap separates most con artists from researchers and entertainers.

An entertainer receives money for the performance; a con artist obtains favors and money based on promises (rarely in writing) or suggested rewards that will follow.  If the entertainer uses lies to obtain money or favors, that’s where the line blurs.

An entertainer may disappoint you with a poor performance, but that’s different from being a fraud or a con artist.

Likewise, a researcher’s results may be disproved by later studies.  That’s not a con, it’s a normal part of trial-and-error research… there will be errors!

A researcher’s integrity is his or her most valued asset.  However, if he (or she) begins to fake results for money, fame or power, he too has crossed the line into the realm of scams and cons.

The vast majority of entertainers and researchers are good, honest people.  It’s important not to use inappropriate labels when their work is merely disappointing.

For more on each of these topics, see my other articles and essays:

Scams and Con Artists

Fake! Does it matter?

Do you have a question or opinion on this subject?  Let me know in the comments form, below.

In addition, some people see orbs in real life, not just in film. To them, the orbs seem to be floating in air. However, the vast majority of people see orbs only in photographs and videos.

Who sees orbs?

It’s difficult to tell how many people capture orb images in photos.

However, the orbs appear in pictures whether you’re a believer or not, and whether your goal is orb photography or not.

Basically, anyone who takes photos in haunted locations is likely to see orbs in his or her photos.

It’s that simple.  Orbs are real.

Until I saw my first, baffling daytime orb in a photo, I hadn’t even looked for photographic anomalies.

Then, when I reviewed old photos I’d taken throughout the UK and Ireland, I was amazed. The only orbs were in photographs of haunted places.

From tests with the Hollow Hill team, it appears that about 80% of photographers will discover orbs in their pictures.

(Photo above, left: Orb outside the Driskill Hotel, Austin, Texas.)

Orb sightings – The test

We tested our theories with about a dozen researchers and identical, disposable cameras.   Some were experienced investigators, and others were on their first “ghost hunt.”  We were all at the same (very haunted) location at the same time, and each researcher took a full roll of photos that evening.

Three of our 20 researchers had no anomalies of any kind — including orbs — in their photos.   One other seemed to capture a strange image, but it may have been a reflection.

Each of the other researchers photographed orbs in an average of three photos (out of 24 on the roll of film).

Note: Before digital cameras became popular, we were happy when two or three photos — out of 100 — revealed anomalies.

Today,  percentages are harder to estimate.  When a researcher sees orbs in his or her photos, that immediate feedback prompts us to take even more pictures in that area.

It’s always a mistake to reach conclusions from a single, limited study.  However, that night’s evidence supported our guideline that about 80% of researchers can take orb photos.

It doesn’t seem to make any difference if the photographer is a skeptic or a believer.

(Photo above, right: Orb above headstone at Gilson Road Cemetery, Nashua, NH)

Tips for more orb photos

The following seem to improve results among orb photographers:

• Use the flash on your camera.
• Use film or a digital setting between 400 and 800 ISO (or ASA).
• Take photos when your “gut feeling” prompts you to.
• If anyone notes an EMF spike, cold spot or other anomalies, take photos in that area.
• Study every photo carefully.  Enlarge it if it’s digital.  Study the film as well as the print, if you’re using a film camera.

Whether you’re actively looking for orbs or prefer other evidence of ghosts and hauntings, orb sightings intrigue many paranormal investigators.

Do you have a great tip that helps you take more interesting “ghost photos”… including orbs?  Have a question about orbs?  Leave comments, below.

The reader asked why my free Introduction to Ghost Hunting course issues a certificate.

A certificate is just that… a certificate. It’s a piece of paper (or a digital certificate) that indicates something, usually that the person has completed a project or course of some kind.

So, anyone can be “certified” if we’re talking about earning a certificate. That’s different from being officially licensed, or claiming to be officially licensed when there is no agreed-upon licensing board.

I offer certificates of completion with my courses. If the person chooses to say that they’re “certified,” that’s is correct. However, your comments are evidence of the confusing nature of this terminology.

I suppose that anyone can claim to be a “certified ghost hunter” if they have some training and earned a certificate. However, when it’s said in a way that indicates some official board of licensing and certification… that doesn’t exist in the paranormal field. Until our studies can be quantified and expertise determined in a truly scientific setting, there won’t be any way to license or broadly certify someone’s skills as a ghost hunter.

Can anyone earn a certificate for completing studies in this field? Yes. Can they say that they’re “certified”? Technically, yes.

Does that mean they’ve achieved a standardized level of competence and are professionally certified by a licensing board of examiners? No.

In spiritual fields, we’re often dealing with subjects that — for the present — are unable to be quantified, weighed or measured. Legally speaking, someone is an “ordained minister” whether they printed out their certificate from the Universal Life Church or graduated from Harvard Divinity School. I’ve met devout spiritual people with certificates from the former, and nasty cynics who’ve abandoned their beliefs after graduating from Harvard.

We’re not in a field where we have annual licensing reviews, or we’re required to complete X number of hours of continuing education or in-service training.

This is one reason why I’m so eager for more people to become active researchers in paranormal fields. The sooner we have more definitive answers to what we call “ghosts” and “hauntings,” the sooner some standardization will be possible.

(By contrast, I doubt that there will ever be a similar measure in pure spirituality. But, I maintain that we will find proof of ghosts and hauntings that can be proved, scientifically. That’s the difference.)

Can someone be taught to find ghosts?

The reader asked if there’s a definitive way that someone can be taught to find ghosts.

I replied: At this point, there is no way to say with 100% confidence that a ghost can be found, period. That said, in this field we tend to use the word “ghost” when we actually mean “phenomena that many people believe may be caused by the spirit of someone who once lived.”

It’s just easier to say, “ghost” and most people know what we’re talking about.

Ghosts are different from demons

The reader asked who has the expertise to tell the ghost to cross over, except the experienced exorcists.

I replied to the reader:   Some exorcists may help a spirit “cross over.” In most cases, exorcists I’ve spoken with are dealing with demons, not ghosts. They don’t care if the demon “crosses over” or crosses the street, as long as it leaves people alone. So, I believe that many exorcists would not say that they’re qualified to get a ghost to “cross over.”

From my experience, getting a ghost to cross over involves empathy, patience, a strong sense of spirituality, and — above all — time. Those are skills best acquired through education and a lot of experience in the field.

Do all ghost investigators want to help the ghosts?

The reader commented about the first lesson in my introductory course, “I would hope that you are trying to help someone or help the ‘ghosts’.”

Not all ghost hunters are interested in helping others, or even helping the ghosts.  So, the following is my reply to the reader’s comment:

In a beginning ghost hunting course, I think the first step is to find a haunted place and determine for yourself if (a) you believe in any of this, and (b) what your specific interest are, if you continue past the point of confirming that something is going on at haunted places.

For some, this will be a scientific pursuit, and have nothing to do with “helping” the ghosts. For others, it may be entertaining like a game show, as in, “How many famous ghosts can you witness?” but on a personal level.

That’s not my call. I present the course so that people can learn enough basics to determine what (if anything) they want to do, after they’ve visited a few haunted places and decided if this is — or isn’t — real.

Should we always warn people not to trespass?

The reader suggested that I should put a warning about trespassing at the top of the first lesson.  I understand the logic of that, and I’m sympathetic to the readers’ concerns.  However, I have a different outlook, as I explained in my reply:

The “never ghost hunt on private and/or posted property without permission” line, appears at the foot of every page of HollowHill.com, and in my ghost hunting rules/guidelines. It’s also common sense and the law.

I’m trying to keep the course concise, and I mention the private property issue in the course. I like to think that most of my students are bright enough not to need it said yet again, when they want to read something new and different as they begin my four-part course.

(Frankly, I think that most of my students are as bright as you are, and — like you — they read everything on the page, including the caveat about private property.)

So… how do you feel about these controversial issues?  Leave your comments in the form below.

Don’t assume that you know the group’s policies, beliefs and practices, just because you know someone in the group or you’ve been to a few of their investigations.

These are some of the points to ask about.

• Locations
• Spiritual context of the group
• Investigation and meeting schedules
• Membership requirements

Let’s talk about a few of those.

Locations

What kinds of haunted sites interest you the most? Do you like (or hate) cemeteries? Private residences? Well-known haunted places? ‘New’ haunted locations that no one else has investigated?

Ask what the group prefers to investigate. Also ask if there are any kinds of sites that the group definitely will not visit, and why.

Spiritual context

A few groups are open about their spirituality. All of the members might belong to one church, or one religion.

However, I continue to hear stories of people who thought a group was inclusive when they joined. Then, they realized that every investigation starts with the team holding hands and saying a very church-specific prayer or following a particular ritual.

If all of the members are passionate about one belief system or view, you need to know this before you join. If your beliefs, practices and attitudes are the same (or at least compatible) with the group, that’s great.

If not, look for another group to join.

Schedule

Find out when the team usually schedules investigations and meetings, and whether that will work for your schedule and routines.

For example, do they usually do research at night or during the day? Do they meet on weeknights or weekends?

How long are meetings? How long are most investigations?

Does the group keep a strict schedule? If you value punctuality but the group is more casual — or even consistently late — it may be difficult to leave the group without sounding critical.

If you prefer to keep your own schedule, will it be a problem if you arrive early and stay late, or vice versa?

Requirements

Ask what’s expected of group or team members.

For example, are you required to attend all non-investigation meetings? How many investigations must you participate in, and how often?

Is there a training requirement? Who is teaching and what are their qualifications? Must all team members follow the training advice exactly, or are you free to use what works best for you?

Ask about money. Dues to cover the group’s website hosting (if it’s not supported by advertising or a sponsor) is reasonable. Also, if your team carries liability insurance — a good idea if you’re hosting paid events or doing private investigations — the team may need to share that expense.

However, you should get everything in writing before you join. And, if you have any questions, ask to see the bills or receipts for group expenses. (Some groups show everyone their bookkeeping records during a monthly or quarterly meeting.)

Personalities

An assertive or even boisterous ghost hunter may seem impressive first, but after a few ghost hunts their constant comments can become annoying. This is one of many reasons to go on several ghost hunts with a group before agreeing to join.

These are the most common issues, but there can be others. Some ghost hunters think it’s okay to have a beer or two before an investigation. Others smoke at the site. Some bring their small, fussy children when they can’t find a babysitter. Some ghost hunters don’t hesitate to bring along skeptical or giggling date.

So, before committing to regular membership in a ghost hunting group, it’s wise to spend time with them. See what their interests and standards are.

[Also, be watchful for scams and con artists. They're a tiny minority, but you should know what to look for. See our supplementary report: Scams and Con Artists.]

What happens if you don’t find the kind of team that you want to join? In that case, consider starting your own group.

—

This article is from the fourth lesson in my free ‘Introduction to Ghost Hunting’ course.  You can read (and listen to) the entire course online, starting at the Introduction to Ghost Hunting welcome page.

On that page, you can also sign up to receive the lesson notices weekly by email.  As a registered student, you’ll also receive a Certificate of Completion after the concluding lesson.  And… it’s all free!

The new version is online, or you can register for the full (and free) four-week series of lessons and receive your Certificate of Completion at the conclusion of the course.

Each lesson includes a printed lesson (PDF) and an audio recording (MP3) with more information.  I’ve also added several supplementary pages of information, to answer additional questions.

For more information, or to read and listen to the free course online, start at the Welcome page:  Introduction to Ghost Hunting – Online edition.

—

Photo credit: Gracey Stinson

Unfortunately, ghost hunting is especially vulnerable to people whose primary interests are financial gain, celebrity status, or power.

I’m not talking about people who mistakenly think they’re more skilled than they really are.

I mean the people who look you straight in the eye and tell you lies for personal and/or professional gain.

If you join a group with a self-styled guru, or a con artist works his (or her) way into your circle of friends, here’s what you need to know.

The first rule is: Never give or loan money to anyone without getting a receipt. I don’t care how nice the person seems. If it’s a loan, have the terms in writing before you give the person anything.

And, never give or loan money that you can’t afford to lose.

Keep your money safe. Then, look for other signs of a scam or a con artist.

• Con artists are charming.
  They’re usually fun to be with. They tell great stories, and they seem to have lived the kind of life you’d like to live. They seem to be successful or they look like rising stars. Around them, you may feel as if you have a connection with greatness.
• Con artists collect friends as quickly as possible.
  This is partly because they’ll lose so many of them, as people become suspicious of what’s going on. But, the larger their apparent entourage or fan club, the more you’re likely to believe their extravagant claims. You aren’t likely to suspect that dozens (or hundreds) of friends and fans have been deceived, too.
• Con artists seem to have dazzling credentials.
  Their friends are famous people. Their degrees (or titles) are impressive. They talk about their past experiences and current connections, pending TV shows and events they’re planning. Their claims are so extravagant, you think, “Who’d make this up?”
• Con artists separate people so they don’t swap notes.
  A con artist leads you to believe that you’re one of the only people he likes and trusts. He’ll say that he doesn’t trust this person and then that one. Following his advice, you’ll stay away from them, too, even if you used to be good friends. The con artist knows that, if you all got together and exchanged stories, his lies might be exposed.

The con artists’ larger-than-life claims lead to their downfall. They simply can’t stop lying for very long… and they’re often lying on a grand scale.

It’s vital to check the person’s claims and credentials. Check all of them, not just the first few that he or she mentions. (I’ll talk about the con artist as if the person is male. However, female con artists can be just as prevalent as male con artists.)

Types of claims

Let’s say that he claims a degree or a title, such as ‘doctor’ or ‘reverend’. Ask what kind of degree (or title) it is, and where it came from. Anyone can become a legally ordained minister, for little or no expense, through the Universal Life Church and similar organizations. http://www.themonastery.org/?destination=ordination

Some con artists claim far loftier credentials. If it’s a degree from a university, you can check the alumni records office to find out if the person is actually a graduate of the school, college or program. Many schools proudly post online a list of some of their graduates. You can also use classmate directories, online, for more information.

If someone claims a British (or other) hereditary title, you can check Wikipedia. It lists the qualified holders of hereditary titles, including their actual surnames, and when the title was created.

Here’s one page at Wikipedia, listing those who hold the British title of Marquess: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_marquessates_in_the_peerages_of_the_British_Isles

If the person’s title is vague but you know their legal surname, David Beamish maintains a list of members of the United Kingdom peerage from 1801 to the present day, and he has indexed it.

It’s online at http://website.lineone.net/~david.beamish/peerages_az.htm and other pages at that website.

If the person claims to have worked with or for a celebrity, you can confirm that. Find the official website of the celebrity, and contact the person’s manager or press agent. Ask if the celebrity has worked for or with the person who’s making the claim.

If the person claims to have been a paranormal investigator for many years, there should be clear evidence of that, online. Even if the person didn’t have his own website, other people will have mentioned the person, at least in reference to a case, a “ghost story” or an investigation.

You can see how long ago they registered their domain name by using a WhoIs lookup.

(I’m not being critical of people who are new to the field; many of them are excellent researchers.   The focus of this article is on the lies that reveal a scam or a con artist.)

If someone suggests that they’ve been on a TV or radio show, or appeared on stage, you can check that online. Go to the show’s official website and search for the person’s name.

(Remember that anyone can add a comment after an article or in a forum, making it appear that someone was in a show.  You’re looking for official cast lists and official lists of the guest stars on the show.)

Here are a few links to TV shows:

• Ghost Hunters (Also see TAPS official website)
• Ghost Hunters International
• Most Haunted [UK] (The cast list is also at Wikipedia.)
• Paranormal State
• Dead Famous
• MTV ‘Fear’ (not ‘Fear Factor’)
• VH1 ‘Celebrity Paranormal’
• Ghost Whisperer

The truth will set you (and maybe a few other people) free

These are just a few of the claims that people can make, trying to find a shortcut to fame or fortune. Sometimes they’re interested in money. Others are more interested in being famous, or feeling a sense of power or control over others.

Thanks to the Internet, almost any person’s claims and credentials can be verified using independent sources.

Don’t assume that the person is “too nice” to lie to you, or their friends are too bright to be conned. The more impressive the person’s stories and claims, and the more convincingly they tell them… the more you must verify them, independently.

If the person is a con artist, it’s better to find out early. Thankfully, scams and con artists are a tiny minority. (To quote the movie, Grease, “They’re amoebas on fleas on rats.”)

Avoid them when you can.

Though it’s important to be watchful for scams and con artists, it’s also important to keep things in perspective.

The vast majority of people who work in paranormal fields are like you. They’re kind, sincere and genuine. You’ll meet many of them at events, investigations, and in the field. They deserve your friendship and admiration, and they make ghost hunting even more personally rewarding.

—

This article is part of my free course, Introduction to Ghost Hunting.

It was originally designed as a four-week course sent via email, but now there’s an online version as well: 24 webpages. Four PDFs.  Four MP3 recordings.  (The online version contains everything except the Certificate of Completion.  To receive that, people have to register, but it’s still free.)

The most important articles from that course will be featured among the regular Hollow Hill pages, as well, so that people can search (and find) the information that they need.

Look for Fiona Broome (the founder of HollowHill.com, and our lead investigator) at the following events.

Special note:  Through September 2009, Fiona is working on her writing projects, including her two upcoming books, The Ghosts of Salem, Massachusetts and The Ghosts of New Orleans’ French Quarter.

During this time, she’ll be making few personal and media appearances.  (To schedule Fiona, scroll down to the Ideal Event Management logo.)

Scheduled events and appearances

2009

Labor Day weekend – Dragon*Con

Join Fiona and about 50,000 friends at the year’s best sci-fi and fantasy convention.  Fiona’s workshops usually involve ghost stories, art and a little steampunk influence.

2010

May 14 – 16 – G.H.O.S.T.S.

Paranormal Conference & Trade Show, Parkway Convention Centre, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.

INVITE FIONA TO YOUR EVENT

Invite Hollow Hill’s lead investigator, Fiona Broome, to your event.  Contact Marc Tetlow at Ideal Event Management for details.