- No drinking, drugs, or smoking funny stuff just because it's legal now doesn't mean it's ok. You have a hard time proving paranormal activity if your seeing things already.
- No horseplay, I mean make a balance between having fun and trying to keep an open mind on what you�re trying to accomplish.
-If you are investigating a cemetery, keep in mind most of them are closed after dusk.
- Bring lots and lots of batteries, it's been said spirits can sometimes play havoc on equipment. Besides a dead flashlight in the middle of nowhere could be dangerous.
- It's a really good idea to go with other people what to do if you get hurt alone, or scared out of your wits, it should be number 1 but it's not really common sense. Doing an investigation is always best with no more than 4 people.
- Make sure you have permission for an investigation DO NOT TRESSPASS, especially for private property or you may be investigating the local jail. Do you need to check out a place that bad?
- Make sure the house if that's what your investigating is safe, getting badly injured is not worth that magic ghost photo everyone wants.
- Scout out your location during the day to look for possible hazards before venturing out to the location at night.
- Before you do an investigation say a prayer, it doesn't have to be fancy but for the few seconds it's going to take it may save you a lot of grief later.
- Respect the property you are on, whether public or private. Do not remove anything, deface anything or leave any garbage.
- Almost forgot, do not have an I'm scared attitude as playful spirits will sense it and have there way with you. And really scare you.
Ok I think I've got most of those out of the way, now for the success part. Again these are the ones I can think of and not a copy of someone's web page so I may have missed some.
- Take notes, your location, time, weather full moon etc, you can never have enough information. After all if you are out to help the field of paranormal studies you need to document everything.
- When you arrive at a location get a feel for the place, walk around for about 30 minutes for any spirits to get used to your presence.
- Keep an open mind negativity scares away spirits.
- Let the present spirits know who you are and what you are doing; after all you are visiting them. Sort of speak.
- Ask the spirits if you may take their picture, you may be surprised at the results.
- I like to take a picture behind myself once in awhile spirits like to follow people around, or your other team members. I have a documented case where I have been followed by persons unknown.
- I have personally found genuine EVP's (electronic voice phenomena) are impossible to get outdoors, I find myself trying really hard to make things out with outside noises and all besides sound travels uncontrolably. But if you want to try, always use fresh tapes and only 1 side and keep your shielded external microphone as far away as possible. You can even try, by setting your recorder down and just leaving it, and return 20-30 minutes later.
- Before recording begins have your group members to talk into the microphone to know the voices on tape. It will make things easier later when playing the tape back.
- Again try asking the spirits questions, you might want to wait about 15-20 seconds to get a reply. Again results may be surprising.
- ALLWAYS try and find a cause for strange happenings whether after your interview with the homeowner or on site at the haunted location. E.g. A draft in a room (Old windows), A vortex (a possible camera strap in your photo always best to remove). And the most common one is the ORB photo (spirit energy) a possible cause could be (dust or weather related).