UPDATE: Our friends at CursedCleveland.com point out in a comment below that Tony has just tweeted about a new job:
Just took a job in N Carolina w/ ISP Networks… on the air with UW Huskies broadcasts on KJR in Seattle. Thanks for all your support!!!!
Congratulations, Tony!
Our original item is below:
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Tony Castricone is by far not the first Ohio media person to lose his job and wonder “what now?”. It’s how he answered that question that brings his story to OMW.
The former Columbus TV/radio sportscaster didn’t just send out resumes and video and audio clips when he found himself looking for work recently. He embarked on an ambitious journey that could change his life – one way or the other.
Tony tells OMW:
“Instead of looking for another job right away, someone said ‘do what you always wanted to do.’ I decided to cash out my 401K and be a touring musician, since that’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve been playing guitar for 11 years.”
From there, it was an extensive Google search for “open mic” nights at various locations across the country – “the biggest and best”, Tony tells us. That resulted in a 40 day, 10,000 mile cross-country music tour Castricone is currently undertaking.
Upon realizing “he didn’t have the money to do this”, he turned to friends to raise the money for his road trip.
Oh, Castricone got into a car accident just before heading out, and had to arrange to buy a new car – while unemployed.
Tony tells us that he’s “living the experience of a lifetime”, in the middle of a tour that started June 10th, and will finish on July 20th.
He tells us:
“I’ve gotten dozens of emails, many from complete strangers, who have told me they were inspired to do what THEY’VE always wanted to do from hearing the story. One signed up for cooking classes, one started taking piano lessons. Some just vent their frustrations to me about getting laid off and say the story’s giving them hope!! What an incredible experience.”
Tony has also hit various media outlets, appearing on TV in Columbus, Baltimore and other cities to tell his story.
That story is on the web here, and his on-the-road-from-the-tour blog is here, with plenty of video and audio.
Our best of luck to Tony, and we thank him for a very inspiring tale!
Terrific story. I’ve known Tony for a long time and for such a young broadcaster, he’s as nice as it comes. His pipes are also ridiculously good.
BTW, according to his twitter, he was just snagged by the ISP sports network. Which is great news!