Losing your sportscasting job is a horrible feeling. Whether you’re fired, laid off or squeezed out, losing your ability to broadcast live sports can leave a huge hole in your life both personally and professionally.
In the spring of 2019, I was laid off from my sportscasting job, one that I’d held for 8 years, due to financial reasons. My job grew from a per game rate to part time to full time over the years as my responsibilities increased. The team however had razor thin financials and they simply couldn’t afford my position.
So in April, after almost 500 games with the same team over 8 years, I found myself not only out of a sportscasting job, but a job period. In years prior, I’d balanced a full time job with my part time sportscasting job…however once that went full time I focused all my energies on hockey.
I was certainly upset with the decision, but understood the reasoning behind it. The mechanics and communication of my layoff was bungled severely with several contradicting statements from various head honchos, but the end message stayed the same…..I had no job.
So how do you handle losing your sportscasting job?
Stay Calm and Carry On
Sports and broadcast media are incredibly small, close-knit industries. Sportscasting on its own is even more so. Everyone knows everyone, so even if you might be tempted to blow things up on your way out the door, resist that urge.
Be Professional in Public
In many cases, you’re the voice and face of a team or a school, and likely well known amongst the community you cover. For me, the team I covered was the biggest sporting ticket in a town of around 18,000 people. The fact that I had an Australian accent and had been around the team for a while meant I was pretty easily recognisable when out grocery shopping or doing other things.
It’s important for you to stay classy and continue to be professional after the fact, despite how you may feel inside. Avoid being overly negative about the team or your former bosses, as that kind of feedback can hinder future job prospects.
Get back on the horse
In Real Estate, there’s a saying: the best time to make a sale is right after you’ve made one. That can hold true in sportscasting as well. The best time to get a job is right after you’ve finished one. Make sure you keep an updated demo reel on hand at all times, refresh the resume and get right back out there.
You might have to create a few of your own opportunities to start with, but use your professional network to navigate your way to a new position to get you back on the air.
Losing any job is tough, but losing a sportscasting job can come with the removal of a sense of purpose. So many sportscasters pour everything they are into their craft, and being told for whatever reason that you can’t do that anymore can be heartbreaking.
However staying professional and maintaining the credibility you’ve earned over years of your career can put you in a really good spot to get back out to game and back on the air.
