A Few Things I've Learned Along the Way.

You can buy as many ghost hunting books as your bookshelf can hold but nothing will prepare you for ghost hunting like actually getting out in the field. Most books will tell you what equipment to buy and how to use it but usually you're on your own once you step into a haunted location. Here are a few tips to keep you safe and productive along the way.

1.) This one is important. If you decide to ghost hunt a cemetery at midnight, do yourself a favor and contact the local police department and let them know what you're up to. Cops do generally cruise by cemeteries and will assume you are grave robbing or vandalizing if they aren't informed ahead of time. Trust me. Being arrested in a cemetery is not cool. Grave robbing is so 1700.

2.) Don't bring your entourage on your hunt. The more people you drag into that abandoned building, the less evidence you're actually going to get. In my experience, less is more. Ghosts don't want to perform for 15 of your closest friends. They will absolutely not engage in communication if there are too many people. Not only that, the more people you bring, the better the chance for evidence contamination. Did you hear a laugh? It's a lot easier to narrow down where it came from if you have a group of 3-4 or less.

3.) Be Safe. Know the place you are investigating. Don't just randomly decide to go to a location in the middle of the night. Plan ahead. Go to the location during the day and check for any holes in the ground, rusty nails, or any safety hazard that might be harder to see at night. Injuries are a lot easier to avoid if you know what your location looks like during the day.

4.) Know your ghosts. Ask questions of anyone who has had experiences with your targeted ghost/ghosts to gain better insight to how you should communicate. It's a lot easier to communicate if you know who you're dealing with. Provoking might work with a hostile ghost but not with a little old lady. If you're too demanding and too harsh on a timid ghost, you'll likely to hear hours of silence during audio playback.

5.) Have your own basic equipment. You'll probably spread out at least once during your hunt and you'll not want to be without a crucial piece of equipment. Have your own camera, recorder, and flashlight. Other, more expensive, pieces of equipment can be shared but you'll want your own basics.

6.) Have a first aid kit. Nothing kills a hunt faster than an injured hunter. You don't have to carry it around but you will want it close by in case of an accident so you can bandage up and keep going instead of packing up and going home for a bandaid and antiseptic.

7.) Know your team. This one is crucial to your team's credibility. Don't just gather random people from Craigslist or a friend of a friend who "loves those ghost hunting shows." Make sure they know what they are doing and what's expected of them. Go over any rules and standard procedures your team has implemented. Also, make sure they aren't the type to sabotage your evidence. Some people want a place to be haunted so badly that they stage paranormal experiences. Don't let yourself be played as it will quickly ruin your reputation. Make sure you trust every team member.

8.) Be professional. If someone enlists your team to investigate their home/property, they need your help. They're likely shaken from the occurrences in their home and need an answer. If they, or a neighbor, see you or your team screaming and running out of their home, you'll likely cause a lot of damage. Not only to the homeowner, but also to your reputation. Keep your cool. You're there to get an answer and you will not get one if you're running from every noise.

Happy hunting!