We here at Spectral Review as you might imagine enjoy the “reality” based ghost and paranormal shows. These shows include Most Haunted, Ghost Hunters, Paranormal State and Ghost Hunters International. These shows in their own way each try to find answers to questions about the paranormal. One could argue about their methods or motivations but they do try to show how they search for ghosts.

These shows are just representations of real people who do paranormal research. Nearly 100% of these people do this paranormal research for free. That tells us that these researchers are not only dedicated to this research but passionate about it also.

We want to know more about these people. Why do they do this research? How did they start? What expertise do they have?

Our next article in the “People in Paranormal Research” series is from Brad Klinge. Brad and his group Everyday Paranormal recently investigated the Boerne Library.

We hope you like this series. If you have any suggestions or want to participate in our series, use our contact form. And as always you can leave your comment here.

Onto the questions and Brad’s really terrific answers.

How long have you been in paranormal research?

Eighteen years.

Where are you located, what area of the world do you do investigations? What is the farthest you have traveled to do an investigation?

We are located in Schertz, Texas — a small town just a few miles northeast of San Antonio.

Our main area of investigation is San Antonio, South Texas, and the Hill Country, but we actually cover the entire state of Texas and will go anywhere in the US if necessary.

We have gone as far as San Francisco, CA for an investigation.

Was there a particular reason or event that lead you to do this research?

Yes. I have been experiencing paranormal events my entire life; but in 1990 (when I was 17), I was on a vacation with my Mom and Dad in Gettysburg, PA. On our way out of town in the middle of the day under bright sunshine, I saw a small regiment of Union soldiers walking in a field. Thinking it was a reenactment, I had my dad stop the truck, and I jumped out with my video camera and ran after them. I could never quite catch up to them but they were only about 50 yards in front of me in an open field. They then disappeared into thin air right before my eyes–but it wasn’t before I actually captured them on video tape as I was running after them. They are so clear and so real on the video tape that no one would ever believe that was actually a phantom resident. I keep that video to myself to this day as personal proof of the paranormal, and I still analyze it. As I said, since it was so real and profound, I never have released it to the public (and probably never will); but the experience definitely was the catalyst for me to do paranormal research.

Why do you continue to do this work?

It is very satisfying to be able to help clients legitimize their claims of paranormal activity (not to mention satisfying to be able to capture some really cool evidence). I realize that this is sort of activity will never be proven to exist, and I am never out to prove a skeptic wrong or a believer right. I just go in with an open mind, try to find rational explanations for the claims, and when I am left with evidence that has no explanation, I present it to the client and the public and let them form their own opinions.

What would be the most compelling evidence you have seen or heard?

I have captured so much amazing evidence that it is very difficult to choose. As far as video is concerned, we caught a chair moving back by itself. As far as photos are concerned, we caught a clear full body apparition of a bartender who fit the exact description of claims. EVPs–that is a whole other area. For some reason, we are able to draw out some of the clearest, eerie EVPs in the field. We have a voice saying Cell Block 10 in Alcatraz, a piano playing in an abandoned farm house, and a voice saying “see them at the top” in a library. Just to list list these three does not do our other EVPs justice (as well as other evidence). They are all equally compelling.

What is your role in your group? Is that where you started? What other roles would you like to learn and do?

I am the founder and lead investigator. Yes this is where I started. There really is no other role for me to do since I run the show already

Have you taken any formal training in your life that has enhanced your skill set for your paranormal work?

I am a project manager of Payroll/HR system implementations at a large global corporation. I travel frequently and have a lot of direct client interaction. This obviously helps me get in front of people and make them feel comfortable. In implementations, you are always solving problems on the fly and coordinating different resources. Obviously in paranormal research, you do the same thing. As far as formal paranormal training, I have none. The best training is experience in my opinion, and no amount of “formal” training in this field is going to make you better. My belief is you either have what it takes or you don’t.

What advice would you give someone who wanted to get into the paranormal field?

First and foremost, you have to love the field and have fun doing it. If you ever feel that you are bored or feel as if it becomes a job, then you need to stop doing it. You have to be committed and flexible as well. If a client has an emergency (sleeplessness, children involved, physical attacks, etc) you have to be willing to drop what you are doing and get to them. You also have to have a family that supports you as well. You will spend many nights and weekends away from home–not to mention the many days, nights, and weekends at home going over evidence.

Is there some aspect or point of view about the paranormal field that you wished that everyone in the field followed?

Not really. This is such a subjective field, and there is no opinion or point-of-view that should be standardized. I do wish paranormal groups would analyze orbs a little more before posting these things as evidence. 90% of orbs that I have seen presented as evidence is totally dust or moisture; however, I do believe there are true orbs and they all seem to exhibit the same qualities.

What misconceptions do the public and/or media have about the paranormal field you wish you could dispel?

I want the public to not see the paranormal field as taboo or worse–a joke. I heard a statistic one time that said one third of all people believe in the paranormal and have had an experience, and another one third believe but have had no experience. If nearly 70% of the population believes in the paranormal, why is it such a closet subject? I named my group Everyday Paranormal for this very reason. I wanted the name to describe that this kind of thing happens everyday to everyday people in everyday places–not just an old creaky house on the hill with dead trees in the yard, owls in the windows, and a black cat on the porch. I have seen so much over the years that I have to wonder if at some point we need to drop the “para” from paranormal.