There are a lot of factors that go into a good ghost hunt. The most important is the location then the equipment. Neither are cheap. Most of these popular locations charge a rental fee to gain access for a night or weekend. Some only allow you on the property for a limited period of time. You don't even get a full 24 hours for your money! Some locations require a lot of up keep and maintenance. This translates into cost of operation, which means .. you got to pay!!
Some of the places do a very bare minimal to accommodate their guest and do minimal cleaning. While others make their location as clean as possible! In order to keep these locations suitable for investigations they has to be a property manager ( again CO$T of operating ).
My most FAVORITE place to visit, Haunted Old Lavaca County Jail in Hallettsville! OMG!! This place is sooooo clean. They have it all!! Ghosts, sleeping accommodations, a FULL kitchen, restroom and shower!! So places do not even have a toilet for you to use and STILL charge you an rathe large amount of money.
A lot of folks are always asking "when can I go with you on your next hunt?" and my response is usually the same. " I'm sorry but at this is a team member investigation only." Most of our investigations are residential and require a "soft" approach. But when we do offer the public its always the same as well. "Oh, you mean we have to pay?" or "Maybe next time, let me know when you go"
When you say there is money involved the interested seem to disappear or the say "hold 3 for me till this Friday please!!" Then when Friday hits and you message them, they NEVER respond. This is why I do not hold tickets any longer. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!!
There are a lot of costs involved with hosting a ghost hunt. You don't want people walking away from an event you hosted saying "dang, that's it?" For the most part, that is what a lot of groups do too! You pay, you show up and you walk around with that team until the time is over. But I want to give an experience that I would want and that costs money! Perhaps its $40 per person, but you are gonna get to investigate a REAL HAUNTED LOCATION, use REAL equipment, bottled water, snacks, and perhaps even pizza for FREE! There are teams and groups that will charge you EXTRA for this!!
So when you see a team or location out there posting about an event and charging for it, they are not trying to pay their light bill or water bill. They are trying to off-set the out of packet expense that they are paying for your benefit! You have been begging to go and they are giving you that opportunity. The chance you have been waiting for is $40 or $50 away. That money goes to assist in the location rental, to assist in buying the bottled water, snacks, food, batteries and even perhaps a gift bag if your lucky enough.
So do not be so snub when you see a group posting about "charging" for a ghost hunt. Do not be so rude to make comments that are negative. If you can not go, sorry, but don't comment saying "why so much" or " I can't afford that" or "not everyone can afford that".. it just shows your contempt and lack of knowledge on what all is involved with that process. Be better than that and say "have fun" or "maybe next time"...... DON"T BE A KAREN!!! lol
