Paranormal researcher shares tales of the supernatural at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
Do you believe in the things that go bump in the night, or are you a skeptic?
Either way you’ll be entertained when Dustin Pari takes the stage at the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Munhall on April 18 at 8 p.m.
As a motivational speaker and paranormal researcher who has appeared numerous times on television’s “Ghost Hunters,” “Ghost Hunters International” and “Destination Truth,” Pari comes by his paranormal passion honestly.
“When I was 9 years old, I saw a humanoid-shaped shadow figure in my home and knew I never wanted to see that thing again,” he said.
So why, you may ask, did he end up being a ghost hunter?
“It turns out that was my gateway ghost,” said Pari, who uses his sense of humor to elicit laughter from the audience at times when the crowd could use a little levity.
Pari, who has traveled the world lecturing about the paranormal, said that his 31 years of experience in the ghost-hunting realm have given him plenty of material to share while on tour.
“Because we are spirits living a human experience, we need to be thoughtful of how we live this life and how it affects our afterlife,” said Pari, adding that for some people it will be an eye opener.
Pari tailors his lectures to the areas he visits so that no two are the same.
“I learn about the history of the area and paranormal hotspots — sometimes they’re in the buildings where I give my talks,” he said.
Another way Pari tailors his talk to the crowd is by allowing those with questions to place them in a fishbowl to be retrieved and addressed during the second half of the show.
“This enables every show to be different and everyone whose question is answered feels like a VIP,” Pari said.
Director and script editor TJ Dawe, whose work has been featured Off-Broadway at the Sydney Opera House, in London’s West End, the Edinburgh Fringe, “The Today Show” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” said that Pari’s work as an EMT adds another dimension to his experience.
“He’s not one to leap to conclusions and he addresses topics which may be of interest to the audience like the legitimacy of Ouija boards and exorcisms for instance,” said Dawe.
One of Pari’s most memorable experiences happened at Clark Air Base at Luzon Island in the Philippines.
“We got everything on tape and an elderly man whom people joked about was touched deeply because everything he was telling people for years was finally validated,” Pari said.
People often ask Pari if he’s scared during his investigations. “I get scared all the time,” he said, adding that he doesn’t attend haunted attractions, or watch horror movies.
“My wife and daughter do, and I have to leave the room,” he said with a laugh.
One way Pari stays grounded is by keeping himself in what he calls a “very good space.”
“That way you mitigate the chances of things happening to you. You’re going to get what you bait your hook for, and while some seek the negative, I view the paranormal more as a magical place to be respected and revered,” he said.
Pari’s advice to aspiring paranormal investigators?
“It’s important to be honest in your research and keep in mind that the more discerning you are, the stronger that evidence will be. Do your research ahead of time and read books — there are a lot of good ones out there,” he said.
Dawe said that some of the people who are the most surprised are the skeptical spouses who, by the end of the night, begin believing that there just may be something to all of it.
“I encourage skepticism; we should always ask questions about these things,” said Pari.
Overall, he said, his work with the paranormal has been a great experience.
“It’s been spiritually affirming to know that the other side is real and it’s comforting to know that there is more to come. Those who are lost aren’t gone forever and we’ll be able to see them and experience them again in the future,” he said.
To buy tickets to the all-age event, visit: Ghosts: Do You Believe? Select Your Tickets – Carnegie Library of Homestead (tixtrack.com)