Hello all, I mentioned about there being a
difference in a previous blog Run it like a business, and I
said I would talk about that later and now is that time.
Some teams call themselves groups and some
groups call themselves teams, now what I define as groups or teams is this.
Paranormal Groups - a bunch of enthusiasts,
investigate mostly public places or pay to play investigation experience. It
doesn't mater what kind of equipment they use (The latest and best or the
crappiest); these groups may not have the skill set for a private home or
Business investigation.
Paranormal Teams - A bunch of enthusiasts that
investigate the paranormal in homes or places of business or properties that
are privately owned and requested an investigation.
Each of these Groups or Teams may do a little of
each. Hey its fun I like pay to play and public haunts as much as the
next para enthusiasts.
What you need
to do to look for a good fit for you, either as an investigator or a client is
look at their previous experience.
With some websites you can look on their pages
and read about what they do and where they do it.
And some you have to contact and ask a lot of
questions.
I get asked a lot of question from clients to
make sure we won't do anything to talk about the investigation to anyone or to
make sure we do piss the spirits off then go home for the night to have the
client be abused by the angry entity. And I'm a glad client does that.
It’s also a good way to see what the client expects. Sometimes they
expect to do the investigation with us. We normally don't do tagalongs
but every investigation is different so we approach it in ways that best suits
our team and the clients needs.
What to look for?
If you are on a website looking at the teams
evidence page or activities page and all you see is a bunch of graveyards or
pay to play investigations then you may be looking at a group. This may be what
your looking for, no pressure just fun.
If you see a website that has businesses or
homes and that’s what you looking for? If this is what you want? Then
good, same amount of fun just a little more pressure to get to the truth.
If there is no info on their website that’s
fine. Just contact them and then start asking questions.
For the Clients.
1. Have you done private home/business and how
many have you done?
2. When was your last investigation? (In
saturated areas like Chicago, New Orleans, New York, St Augustine. they may
have months in-between cases. this should not be a problem its feast or famine
sometimes)
3. How many years of experience? (This means
nothing and everything. A crapshoot. I've met teams that were under a year and
had their act together and I've met teams that were in their 12th year and were
very disorganized and didn't know how to investigate without contamination of
their data.)
4. What do you Charge. Most teams or groups
don't charge and if they do. I wouldn't trust them. Some investigators
charge for gas that is ok if you can afford their cost.
5. Do you do any angry provoking? (It's up to
you on what you think about this but I look at it this way You poke me while
I'm sleeping and I get very angry. Remember they go home for the night you
still have to live or work there.
6. Does your team have background checks for its
members (I require this from my team and they pay the fee for the check around
$20 for a decent one.)?
These are just a few questions to start with.
For People wanting to join a team.
1. How will you start me out?
2. Are there any dues? (If a team or group asks
you for dues make sure its not outrageous of a price I've hear of some teams
charging their members $20 a month. that’s nuts. 5 to 10 dollars is
decent. Some teams only have dues maintain a website or to replace or repair or
upgrade their equipment these dues are temporary sometimes)
3. I know this is controversial but find out
their religious beliefs if they have any to see if you can live with that. I
know if I was on a team full of satanic worshipers I couldn't.
4. Tell your potential teammates any allergies
phobias or medical conditions. I know it’s not a question but you would
be surprised how many teams don't ask about that. It may just save your life.
5. Team meetings, how many, when, and are they mandatory?
These are a few to get you started.
I hope this helps, Happy Hunting.
As a matter of discourse, I am not sure if I buy into the whole group versus team paradigm as presented here.
ReplyDeleteLet me explain.
I was looking for something rather specific in a group/team. First was that it wasn't afraid of metaphysics in combination with the paranormal. Secondly, and this is because of my paranormal experience with a group I had left, is that I didn't like how most teams were structured.
For the metaphysical, this is one of those things where teams will embrace or reject based on how they do their investigations. I've heard it said that you can't be metaphysical and scientific. I say, "why not"? You can't figure out a way to scientifically back up what is being derived by using metaphysical means? Maybe it's just too much work. I could see that. The problem I have with the outright rejection of using metaphysics is that when dealing with the paranormal you are dealing with the subtle energies and the mind. Metaphysics taps into that aspect of one's self. If anything I would argue that everyone should embrace these items and understand how and why they work as part of a scientific process.
It's a matter of prerogative. Teams can do what they want.
Secondly when it comes to team structure (and where I diverge completely), pretty much everybody takes a hierarchical corporate structure to assume roles within the group. The disadvantage of any team member joining into this structure is that if they aren't part of the "founding members" then they will at best be relegated to a lower investigator positions until one of the leaders leaves the group. That's not really likely to happen.
It's also not how groups really work in nature. In nature we look at animal herds and when it comes to decision making and dynamics, the group makes decisions all the time. They are important and everyone has a say on those decisions whether it be to move to a better pasture or to go to the watering hole.
In some animal groups ability and experience give an individual a leadership role. It's a role that is challenged on a constant basis or is spread among the various leadership types as a result of a conflict of egos. It is also a temporary position.
With the paranormal and why I point this out is because we are not investigating in a business sense, we are investigating in a human sense. While business is business (and if you intend a group as a business, I am curious about your profit models placed against investigative and cultural mores), humanity is a completely different thing altogether.
*continued*
ReplyDeleteIt is very difficult to be a single-person investigator. It requires a lot of abilities (i.e. psychic) that pretty much most of us do not have (actually most of us have them, but are severely underdeveloped, but that's a whole different discussion). In the spectrum of ego versus team structure, you have to rely on the group mindset (not the tiered structure) to investigate in order to get consistent and solid evidence. (Have you ever heard of strength in numbers? It works with evidence gathering too, but the explanation is metaphysical in nature.)
Before I started my own group, I came from a group with a solid hierarchical structure. The reason why it didn't/doesn't work for me is because I want to be treated as an equal. I understood then that I didn't have anywhere near the experience the leader had, but it didn't stop me from wanting to ask questions and trying to better myself and humanity as a whole through the process. At the same time I didn't want to be looked down on as some kind of insolent child who should be pitied/punished for not knowing or asking dumb questions.
Which comes down to the heart of the matter and that is how you treat each other as members. The one question and is always the question you should ask yourself regardless of whatever group you may choose to join is: "Are you happy"? I knew a few people that were doing it regardless of their answer to the question. Maybe it was a sense of obligation and investment that was put into their team? But no team regardless of whose it is, is worth your time if you're not happy. And with so many teams in the Chicago area alone, your happiness should be the main reason you're with a team.
Now, how do you get that across in just a website?