Ghost Tour Ethics

critterrice · 27th July 2009, 12:34 PM

I am working on a Mystery Tour of Spokane that will have a Magic "Ghost Show" at the end. The tour will feature some of our local weird history and urban legends wrapped in a fictional ghost story.
The problem is that I don't want anybody to go all Conan-Doyle on me.
Is it sufficient to put in the program, "for entertainment only?"
Or is there something else I should do that will circumvent any kookery without interfering with the suspension of disbelief that I require?

vIQleS · 27th July 2009, 07:28 PM

I'd be tempted to put a bit of skepticism in the presentation...

As you say - suspension of disbelief is probably crucial, so it'd probably have to wait until the end... Or maybe an announcement right at the start:

"What you are about to see and hear is complete fiction [incorporating local legends and stories]. While we have never seen any convincing evidence that would lead us to beleive that life in any form continues after death - we like to pretend and we hope that what you see tonight will scare the **** out of you..."

"You may see things tonight that will challenge your existing beliefs, but bear in mind that the mind has remarkable powers of deception - anything you see and hear tonight is only a figment of your imagination... <--- (Sets up the possibliity that they're going to see stuff...)

And something similar at the end.

"What you saw tonight was not real and, like all ghost sightings, can be easily attributed to [throw in some science / psychology here]"

You're never going to convert the trubees, but at least you can sleep at night knowing you're not misrepresenting anything or turning anyone to the dark side_(tm)...

vIQleS · 27th July 2009, 07:32 PM

PS. I just coined the term "Trubees". Copyright (c) Me 2009...

But you guys can use it if you want.

jay.tarnoff · 28th July 2009, 05:52 AM

I have a similar thought regarding "Ghost Tour Ethics." There is a Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA (cue "The Office" theme music), run by Dorothy Dietrich.

Besides for the webpage being extremely difficult to navigate and, what I consider overly complicated, it links to the Psychic Theatre, which I believe is a performance conducted at the museum.

The Psychic Theatre is billed as "Picked by the Pennsylvania Department of Tourism as one of the "ten most haunted places in Pennsylvania! (number nine)" and offers a "$5,000 ghost guarantee".

Here is the guarantee:

"1) You will hear, feel or see many paranormal type happenings during "Haunted!" such as sounds, touches, ghosts, mind reading, sightless vision, mind control, or Poltergeist activity that you will not be able to fully explain and duplicate. If you can your tickets will be free and you will be awarded $5,000.00 (See our web site below for details, www.PsychicTheater.com)

2) We do not use stooges in the show. No audience member is a part of our staff. $5,000 will be awarded if you can prove differently

3) There are no extra hidden performers, or backstage personnel used to create the manifestations or paranormal happenings that may occur. The only two performers in the show are the two performers seen on stage. If you can prove differently you will be awarded the $5,000.00.

Each of the three guarantees listed above are independent of each other.

In order to qualify for award number 1, you must fully explain and duplicate each of the manifestations occurring in "HAUNTED". You must use your own lighting and sound equipment, as we cannot risk damaging ours, as we have an ongoing show. In order to protect our copyrighted material all props used in duplicating our presentation will become property of The Houdini Museum."

I do not know what type of disclaimer they provide at the show, but this seems to be a pretty hard sell to "Trubees" (vIQles, 2009).

27th July 2009, 12:34 PM	#1
critterrice Scholar Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 78	Ghost Tour Ethics I am working on a Mystery Tour of Spokane that will have a Magic "Ghost Show" at the end. The tour will feature some of our local weird history and urban legends wrapped in a fictional ghost story. The problem is that I don't want anybody to go all Conan-Doyle on me. Is it sufficient to put in the program, "for entertainment only?" Or is there something else I should do that will circumvent any kookery without interfering with the suspension of disbelief that I require?

27th July 2009, 07:28 PM	#2
vIQleS Muse Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Auckland NZ Posts: 730	I'd be tempted to put a bit of skepticism in the presentation... As you say - suspension of disbelief is probably crucial, so it'd probably have to wait until the end... Or maybe an announcement right at the start: "What you are about to see and hear is complete fiction [incorporating local legends and stories]. While we have never seen any convincing evidence that would lead us to beleive that life in any form continues after death - we like to pretend and we hope that what you see tonight will scare the **** out of you..." "You may see things tonight that will challenge your existing beliefs, but bear in mind that the mind has remarkable powers of deception - anything you see and hear tonight is only a figment of your imagination... <--- (Sets up the possibliity that they're going to see stuff...) And something similar at the end. "What you saw tonight was not real and, like all ghost sightings, can be easily attributed to [throw in some science / psychology here]" You're never going to convert the trubees, but at least you can sleep at night knowing you're not misrepresenting anything or turning anyone to the dark side_(tm)...
	__________________ ==--New NZ Skeptical Podcast--== TheCusp Episode Zero is Live!!! http://thecusp.org.nz RSS feed: http://thecusp.org.nz/podcast/rss

27th July 2009, 07:32 PM	#3
vIQleS Muse Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Auckland NZ Posts: 730	PS. I just coined the term "Trubees". Copyright (c) Me 2009... But you guys can use it if you want.
	__________________ ==--New NZ Skeptical Podcast--== TheCusp Episode Zero is Live!!! http://thecusp.org.nz RSS feed: http://thecusp.org.nz/podcast/rss

28th July 2009, 05:52 AM	#4
jay.tarnoff Scholar Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 65	I have a similar thought regarding "Ghost Tour Ethics." There is a Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA (cue "The Office" theme music), run by Dorothy Dietrich. Besides for the webpage being extremely difficult to navigate and, what I consider overly complicated, it links to the Psychic Theatre, which I believe is a performance conducted at the museum. The Psychic Theatre is billed as "Picked by the Pennsylvania Department of Tourism as one of the "ten most haunted places in Pennsylvania! (number nine)" and offers a "$5,000 ghost guarantee". Here is the guarantee: "1) You will hear, feel or see many paranormal type happenings during "Haunted!" such as sounds, touches, ghosts, mind reading, sightless vision, mind control, or Poltergeist activity that you will not be able to fully explain and duplicate. If you can your tickets will be free and you will be awarded $5,000.00 (See our web site below for details, www.PsychicTheater.com) 2) We do not use stooges in the show. No audience member is a part of our staff. $5,000 will be awarded if you can prove differently 3) There are no extra hidden performers, or backstage personnel used to create the manifestations or paranormal happenings that may occur. The only two performers in the show are the two performers seen on stage. If you can prove differently you will be awarded the $5,000.00. Each of the three guarantees listed above are independent of each other. In order to qualify for award number 1, you must fully explain and duplicate each of the manifestations occurring in "HAUNTED". You must use your own lighting and sound equipment, as we cannot risk damaging ours, as we have an ongoing show. In order to protect our copyrighted material all props used in duplicating our presentation will become property of The Houdini Museum." I do not know what type of disclaimer they provide at the show, but this seems to be a pretty hard sell to "Trubees" (vIQles, 2009).