Socialization Conferences - The Next Trend?

I was honored to be asked to be a speaker at a conference in Florida recently. I was elated being able to visit another new state and to meet some people speaking there I've always wanted to meet. I still do get excited at meeting people who I believe have helped the paranormal community in a positive way. I still have "heroes".

I was in the air for almost 8 hours. The minute I touched ground and got off the plane, I found out it was to be go, go, go. No jet lag allowed. No resting. No checking into a hotel. Just run errands and then have dinner while meeting people. Great. I was hot and sweaty, didn't have much makeup on and old clothes. Who dresses up to fly? Certainly not me. I tried to take it in stride but it was hard to smile after passing the time zones and being crunched in a full plane, having a lot of luggage to tote (I'm big on having everything when I travel) and listening to babies and children wail and cry. Ugh!!

Finally, I was able to sleep after three additional hours following my plane trip. Interestingly, I guess it was still expected to drink some more.

I got to sleep in the next day but time was wasting. I was told not to rent a car and drive myself (which I do love doing) I would be taken care of and needed to be driven. Following a long wait for the car to be ready to take me as well as others, I had to meet a woman who I would be with for the rest of the weekend. She was my conference confidante. She was the woman with the answers. I liked her....a lot. She was like me, to the point and all sass, but in a nice, southern way.

All weekend seemed to be about socialization. Everything was about having a drink and talking to people. I have no problem with doing any of that but it was every day. No getting past it. I found that this trip was not going to give me any "me" time. "Me" time is something I LOVE when going on trips. I get to pamper myself in my room on my time. I bring all the necessities or purchase them after arrival. I got no "me" time this time around. Disappointing but that's how it goes sometimes.

I was expected to be clean, sharp, made up and dressed at all times. While that didn't happen, I tried to give my presentation in a room which was hot, had no way to see any sights, had no speakers for my (or anyone else's presentation) and had to be social through it all. I didn't mind. The people that went to the conference were wonderful. They were gracious, most were interested, asked questions and were great to talk with. I don't try to change people's minds if they already have a mind set but just offer new suggestions. You can't change everyone.

I arrived at this conference early hoping to see some sights in this state. I left early because I couldn't. I loved every minute that I was at this conference and met some people that I've always wanted to meet and made my own opinions regarding them. I wouldn't trade all that for the world.

Let's Talk About Conferences

So, this blog is not for the faint of heart. I am going to lay it on the line, give you the straight poop and set the record straight.....all while trying to be a nice guy and not name those people involved. While you may figure it out, I'll still try to be a nice guy.

I'm currently attending a conference in Southern California. It's aboard a historical landmark. It's aboard a historical landmark that I haven't believed is haunted for years....but that apart, it's a great place to visit.

Remember, my opinion.

This conference has had red flags waving from the beginning. Two of the most important speakers bowed out just before the conference and they were the speakers one would really want to see when going to a conference that deals with their line of work. I know, this is really stretching it without actually saying it, but sorry.....names are withheld to protect the innocent (well, there's really no one considered innocent here and that has nothing to do with it but, whatever).

So one speaker just bowed out for reasons. That's okay I guess. Things happen. The other for a family commitment?? Doesn't that sound a lot like he already knew there was something going on in his family entity? It didn't say emergency which means right now stat!! Funny that.

So, this conference has been so disorganized from the beginning and yet, there is such "analocity" about who gets to attend and who doesn't that they even copied an important card's number from each person when checking in. The person putting it on says he spoke to his attorney who said you need to know exactly who you're letting in so copy this number down. Hmmmm, incredible invasion of privacy but double question that attorney regarding his idea of what is and isn't identity theft, but anyway.....

You pay an outrageous amount of money to hear speakers that say the same thing at every conference save for one or two plus you can't hear the speakers because the conference provider is carrying on his own conversations in the back of the room. Wow!! No room for consideration here.

You get to go on investigations in a circus-like atmosphere with 25 people in each group and are supposed to try to capture pictures or EVP or anything with any other equipment you have while film makers are interviewing people, carrying rather large lights and sticking cameras in your face especially if you are the two girls trying desperately to be on camera. All while trying to capture these EVP's or hear noises, voices, bangs or thuds. Actually it was the conference provider who was a whole "floor" up shouting questions to the supposed ghost that haunts the area we were in all the while having the large light and camera pointed up to that floor from below.

While I'm all for documenting any possible paranormal activity, this bordered on insanity. The rest of us were desperately trying to be quiet and capture anything other than these other things going on with the ring master and his court. Incidentally, it was he who stated in no uncertain terms that we should "shut up" and allow us all, in each group, an opportunity to try to capture any EVP's or pictures. Is that considered an oxymoron?

I am well aware of the insanity that takes place at conferences having held them for almost 10 years now. I know how difficult it can be to gain control and keep control of a large group which is why I have opted for smaller groups now. But to add fuel to the fire by shouting from above was just bad form.

One last tidbit, this conference started on a Thursday night with their "meet-and-greet". Very difficult for people trying to get to these things because of work (which, incidentally, people need to be very aware of lest they lose theirs to another at a lesser pay).

I think, again, my opinion, that conference providers need to be more aware of what avenues are best for the people attending, i.e., cost, venue, local hotels and eateries, etc. They should also be mindful of speakers who say the same thing all the time and those that really have something to offer the paranormal community. People that put these things on to promote themselves or their own agendas make it very difficult for people that want to learn, want to network or just become more advanced and get into a haunted place they couldn't normally get into, is really kind of selfish. We, as conference providers, need to be more aware of those people who sign up for these things. They are the ones who make these things happen. Forget all our own agendas!! Help out Joe Doe so that he can learn more and be a better investigator/hunter and the paranormal community will have a step up from the craziness that goes on out there all the time from those that don't know what they're doing because they haven't been taught.

I can't say too much about this conference other than it was nice to meet up with people I haven't seen in a long time and to pick up some interesting books that will keep me busy reading for awhile. It's a shame but that's the way these things go sometimes!! Make certain you check out EVERYTHING about the conference you're attending before you plunk down those hard earned dollars. Remember, your consumer dollars help fuel this economy and your vote, er, uh, dollars count!!

In the meantime, I won't be attending another conference (my last one besides what we have put on was about 5 years ago) for a L-O-N-G time. I believe I've lost my taste for them for awhile again.

Happy ghost hunting!!

Am I Sure I'm Happy About A New Year??

I have been pondering the question about whether or not I'm happy about a new year. Our normal way of doing things is, that since September and October get to be very busy with guest appearances, maybe a TV segment or radio segment, etc., that we take November and December off to recuperate and recharge our batteries. I normally take that time to purchase new equipment, check the equipment and maintain it and other such things. Last year, however, was different. For the first time, we were not running from one appearance to another. We had time to breathe. BUT, we have continued to be busy at a consistent rate during November, December, January and now February. This has been tough. Usually I need and take time to recharge myself and I haven't been able to do that.

This is frustrating to me. I like checking and rechecking the equipment. I like making sure all our cables, adapters, surge protectors, clips, and any additional accessories needed to continue working at our breakneck speed is there and working well. I don't have time to do that. It's frustrating.

Equipment can be the core of any group. Our group is no exception. We need to have the cameras running on the DVR. That allows us to move freely throughout a building without the worry of missing something important. We have to check things regularly and maintain the equipment. It can get expensive.

So, another year gone, another year to work. In the real world, people are losing their jobs because of the recession no one would admit we were in. I listen to people talk about Bush and his administration and what a lousy job he did and how we wouldn't be here in the first place if it wasn't for his mistakes. Okay. Now we have a new guy in who is making promises right off the bat and everyone is expecting a miracle. I'll wait and see and not hold my breath. He's got a BIG task ahead of him.

There is a lot of unrest because of the economy. People are doing things they wouldn't normally do. People are very unhappy. This causes them to look in other places for money. Some are not good places. But that gives us the best posture for what we do. We, as ghost hunters and paranormal investigators, are in a good position because we stick together. We all want to have those experiences and we don't mind sticking together to get into a building and perform that investigation. This gives us the benefit because these buildings are in need of repair, money and people to come visit them. They are more willing to open the doors for us.

If we play our cards right by being knowledgeable, being respectful, having good backing from our resumes we can get into these places and perform those investigations. We must pull together in this time of need and be knowledgeable and prove to people out there that we can be respectful.

It's important to remember that there are people out there (including ghost hunters) who are not in this job for the history, the importance of the buildings and the necessity to help them. They are in this for the thrill of an experience and that's it. They don't want to help. They don't want anything more than themselves but it seems that they can talk a good talk. It's not until they are in the position of being in the public eye that they can't walk the walk. This makes us all look bad.

Since it seems that we will never have any standards other than what we ourselves put together or put together with a small few other groups, we must try and try some more to make sure that these groups that are out there for themselves at least make some effort to learn. Unfortunately this type of attitude will continue because people who act like this think they know it all anyway, but we can try. We tried before they came along and we'll try after they're gone.

J.D. Grant comes through again!!

There are so many things going on right now that I want to talk about everything but we'll stick with this right now because my feet haven't touched ground yet.

Every year we are graciously asked to come back to assist with ghost tours at the Joseph D. Grant Ranch House in San Jose, California. We have done these for about six years now. We always attend and always have a great group of people going through these tours.

I had been getting concerned because, for the past couple of years, the activity in the house was diminishing. There were small things happening but nothing as in years prior. I was concerned that the guests to the house would not be having experiences as in prior years and that is really important because it is an active house and it's a great house architecturally and historically. We really like doing the tours because they are spooky fun and can be exciting when there are tappings on the walls or other such noises.

This year, things were incredibly different. I am extremely pleased with the results from this year. While people had ordinarily talked about hearing things, I hadn't. While people had said they had been touched, it wasn't something I could definitely validate. But things were different this year.

It seems that every tour had noises in the house - sounds of a chair being moved, footsteps, rustling in a room, etc. It seems that every tour had touching, noises, cobwebbing. This is very exciting. While I have had these types of things happening in other venues, there were different things that happened in this house. However, Friday and Saturday nights' tours were exciting, active and happening right before our eyes and ears. We were hearing footsteps, furniture moving, tappings and other such noises. The highlight of the evening and of the weekend came, when in Edith's room - the most active room of the house and the last room on the tour - Ron, the historian was discussing Edith's sordid past and I was describing many of the paranormal experiences that has occurred in the room, the door which led out onto the roof's balcony opened....slowly.....in front of us. Actually, the door opened slowly, hesitated a bit when I was alerting Ron (who happened to be talking) and words were stumbling out of my mouth and then continued to open some more slowly.

Now while that may not sound like a big deal to most people but considering that this door was closed and locked at the door latch, it was also latched at the top of the door. I was ecstatic!! I was ready to jump up and down. My happiness could not be contained and while everyone looked at me in disbelief I was explaining how important this was and hoping that one of our members had caught this on her videocamera.

Alas, she had not. The battery had become drained and while she was fussing with the camera to try to get it working again, the door began its' opening. Never fails. Right when you think you got it, you don't.

It was interesting to find out that many different articles belonging to the actual Grant family were recently donated to the house and had become displayed in the house.

Is this why the house has become alive again? I don't know but whatever it is that has brought it back to life, I'm very, very happy!!!

So what's in a title??

I just had to write this because it was enough to make me laugh. I've never thought much of titles. I do hand them out freely because titles are nothing more than what people think of you or what a person thinks of themselves. I get a kick out of titles.

I must admit I've been called many names during my time as founder/director for Ghost Trackers and not all of it has probably been good. I've been told I have a "heavy hand" when dealing with its' members, been told I was a pushy broad and now of all things, a newspaper has called me a, "supernatural symbol in the world of the paranormal". Basically, they were making claim to all the information, resources and education we have offered to the public as a way of helping them understand what paranormal activity is all about.

I am honored by this title. While I don't think it's fitting as there are a number of people I can think of that should receive that title before me, I am honored to have it. While it's nothing close to sex symbol (I would have liked that title when I was younger), the phrase does me good.

It does put me right up there with the incomparable "Paranormal Hub of the Central Valley", my good friend, Jackie. She was given this title for all the information, resources and education she offers to the public in the Central Valley of California. Jackie does her part, in sickness and in health, for the paranormal community. That's why she is a mainstay.

So....from this Supernatural Symbol and, I'm sure from the Paranormal Hub, we bid adieu for now.

The Hard Work Is Done, Time For Fun!!

The one thing ghost hunters don't do is have fun. Am I saying that going on investigations and hanging out with friends isn't fun? No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is, with all the investigations, the preliminary investigations, the walk throughs, getting to learn your equipment, getting to learn new equipment, putting together your standards and protocols and teaching that to others, keeping up with the paperwork - that includes emails, maps, releases, and then having to watch all the video footage, listen to the EVP, look at the pictures. Whew!!

It takes a lot to be a ghost hunter which is why not everyone can make it their job. Those that can are VERY lucky. They are in a position that not everyone can be in and there aren't very many of us that can do that.

I enjoy the stress that comes with doing this. It keeps me going. I may gripe and nag some but it's all worth it in the end. Ghost hunting is great for most of us. I enjoy the little bit of exercise I get, the fresh air sometimes, the thrill of the hunt. But, one thing we don't do is take a real vacation.

A vacation is something that a ghost hunter does every time they go on an investigation. To them, the travel, the time spent, the thrill is all their vacations and they use the vacation time from their regular jobs to do this as necessary. I try to take a vacation every year. A vacation is one that is hopefully a new place where I don't have to put on my "game face". There's no film crew, no reporter, no media of any kind. There's nothing but a hotel, a historic and haunted place and a pool or preferably a jacuzzi. I can relax if I want. I can look at pictures, video or EVP if I want. I can get in the jacuzzi if I want. No real pressures. I can play with my audio recorders or play Mario Cart on my Nintendo DS (yes, I do have one - don't you??). I can listen to music or meditations.

This year four members of our group are going to Fredericksburg, Virginia and then Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This is huge for me. I don't fly for one thing so it will be a big deal that way and then to visit a spot second on my list after Tombstone (which we did and shot our first documentary there) and New Mexico (haven't done that yet). I've always wanted to go but not flying. I enjoy driving. This is a flight and it's five days. My mind is racing. What equipment can I take that I won't worry about. How much stuff do I need? I hope I don't forget underwear. Nothing worse than going commando I hear.

I'm very excited. I can't wait. I know the people we're going with but we also have our own car in case they want to take off or do something else. I'm very excited.

Gettysburg is some place I've always wanted to see. I'm not interested in the re-enactments or any of the ghost tours but I want to see the battlefields and spend a great deal of time on them with my cameras and recorders. I want to experience the things that go on there that I've heard and read about for many, many years. Weather shouldn't be too bad and short of events going on there, it should be lots of fun. I'm very excited.

I'll let you know how this vacation goes but suffice it to say that we have an investigation to do before we go and so work again comes first but the vacation will be great.

Did I mention I was VERY excited??

The Ritualistic Gathering of Ghost Hunters

Awwww, spring. The blossoms bloom, there are showers that bring flowers, and the time that the Ghost Trackers gear up for our yearly California Ghost Hunters Conference. This year was the sixth year of our annual conference. While we Ghost Trackers try really hard to bring a good program to people attending, this by far, was the best year for our conference. We didn't have anyone that was exceptionally different from one another and the agenda itself was the same as it has been from the beginning, a cocktail reception on Friday followed by an investigation and a day long schedule of events on Saturday followed by an investigation. The difference with this year was that our bonus investigation was the best that could be found....anywhere!!

We work very hard at finding the best, out-of-the-way places we can to book our venues hoping they would give the best investigations for our attendees. This year was extraordinary.

But this brings about the question of where do ghost hunters gather and what do they really get out of it?! I have watched for years as the same ghost hunters or ghost hunting groups put on the same conferences in the same place every year. The list of speakers for these conferences is always the same. Let's think about that for a moment. If you go to a conference in, say, Nevada, you see the same speakers listed as say one in California. My question would be why? Why would you want to go to a conference in one state only to get the same people speaking at another conference in another state? Well, the only possible answer would be to be in on the investigations that are being held. Do you think people really travel all over just to see the same old people? No, of course not. They want to go to the investigations.

I am amused at the number of people who do this. While I would want to go to the conference to go on the investigations if it's some place I have never been (and was interested in the place) but I would ditch the speakers and see the town or surrounding area. Why listen to the same old speakers talk about the same old stuff. Let's face it, there's only so much EVP, ghost photography, how-to's on investigation that one person can take. While it may be interesting to learn anothers' techniques, you will do an investigation the way you want or have been taught but not by going to a workshop. You may incorporate some of that information but you will not be doing one step-by-step nor will you discard your current equipment for new, pricier equipment recommended by a speaker just because it's what he uses. While it would be nice I suppose and quite flattering to the speaker, it's just not something people do as a rule. They would consider it when purchasing new stuff but they just won't run out and purchase it because someone said so.

I am surprised at the number of people making the exodus to the same conference in the same place every year even when the people are different (yet, in some ways, the same) and the investigations are the same. What is it that people see in doing this? There are the typical conferences that use this format in Illinois, at Gettysburg, at Waverly Sanitarium, and a few other choice places but these are the same old places. Why? Just as with the paranormal, there are far too many questions and not enough answers. So, again, why? Why do they make it a habit or ritual to do the same old thing every year. While the price is less than ours, they don't get a meal unless they pay for it, they don't get extracurricular activities or investigations unless they pay for it and it usually includes the same people speaking. Again, why?

Now I would tell anyone looking to go to a conference to be sure that, 1) it's somewhere they want to go and, 2) that they have an idea of what or whom they are going with, whether it's the group putting it on or someone they know who will be there, you need to be sure. Many groups put on conferences with no why or wherefore of what they are doing. Case in point, a group in Sacramento put on their first conference in a town called Volcano. They stated they were going to have 10-15 speakers and that they would have the town available for investigation where the main point would be the only hotel in town which had ten or so rooms. They wanted people from all over the country coming to their conference and gave instructions about the hotel, other hotels, all the speakers, and the local airport. So what happened? I have heard from numerous people that have gone to this so-called conference that it was a big joke. Why? Because the only hotel in town was reserved for the people putting the conference on and the guest speakers. Remember, the hotel is the only one in town and only had about 10 or so rooms. The next nearest hotel was 20 miles away down a small, winding road. There was supposed to be a shuttle and that never materialized. The "available" spots in town to investigate were two other places - the saloon next to the hotel and a coffee shop. The town consisted of 105 residents. Can you figure out why it was a big joke? Yet, I understand by the attendees of this conference that the people putting it on were stating their praises and patting each other on the back because they feel they put on such a great conference. Of course it was a great conference to them, they stayed in the only hotel in town and hung out together. I've been told that these attendees will not be attending another conference they put on. It's this type of conference and these type of people that give such a bad name to those of us who are seriously trying to put on a conference for people to meet and learn. They are a disgrace!!

You should always check on the people putting it on, where you're going and what the agenda is. The conference should be geared specifically for the attendees, not for the possible big headedness of the people putting it on.

A conference should be fun and a great learning experience. You should have fun and make sure it's geared to you as an attendee. You should be aware of how they put it together, what's included, what types of hotels are available to you, are the people putting it on making it worth your while or theirs? Be aware of what's going on.

Most importantly, try and have fun!!!