There are several important things to consider before joining a ghost hunting group or team.

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!

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