Festool Live is DEAD.
- Thread starter onocoffee
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tjbnwi
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I know who you’re referring to, it was just a running joke. I do it with my employees, the majority are female. They’re the ones who started it always saying “I can’t do math”.
Tom
Crazyraceguy
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The strange thing though is that the Sedgetool channel episodes were more teacher/student oriented and the usual stooge schtick was not there.
Didn't the "Live" shows fill a need during the Covid thing? I don't remember seeing them before it. They may have been, but I don't recall it. He always started with the yardstick and maybe even a mask? at least in the first few seconds
Didn't the "Live" shows fill a need during the Covid thing? I don't remember seeing them before it. They may have been, but I don't recall it. He always started with the yardstick and maybe even a mask? at least in the first few seconds
luvmytoolz
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"Minnie" I'm pretty sure.
onocoffee
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I think that was something that he ended (or was told to end) maybe a year or so ago.
It is my understanding that the FTLive started during the pandemic as a means of outreach since they could no longer do in-house trainings.
And I imagine that his SedgeTool videos are a bit more produced from his end. Cleaner and more refined than perhaps his persona amongst friends. I listened to a few of the early podcasts that he does with Jason Bent and Sedge is way more "colorful" in those episodes than he ever was on FTL or ST.
It is Minnie It was typically a shtick of "Minnie, what is 850mm divided by two?" "425!!" and Sedge would respond: "You're so good at metric." And while I did find it a little odd from time to time, I think it was more of a banter between good coworkers who had worked together for many years rather than something insidious. But to the first-time, or occasional viewer, I can see how it could be seen in a certain way.
I also wondered how a conservative European company would think about a very enthusiastic American becoming the de-facto face of the company. For the different things that people didn't like about him, Sedge brought a lot of enthusiasm and fandom to Festool. He knew the products and was great at engaging the audience - whether online or in-person - and teaching them about the products and how to use them. Any company needs people (and outreach) like this. Most of Festool's videos, whether produced by FTUSA or elsewhere, are God Awful. From teh 1-2 minute promo pieces that really give no insight to the other videos where rather reserved chaps are droning on and on about the products. I'd much prefer to learn about FT from The Two Peters (Parfitt and Millard) than official Festool releases.
Whatever happened, I believe it was sudden. Listening to Sedge on the latest 3 Splinters podcast today, he sounded as if he was still employed by Festool. I ‘think’ they record the podcast on Wednesday or Thursday of the previous week. I wonder if he was given walking papers on Friday morning before Festool Live? His LinkedIn profile and HIS comments from Sunday’s Sedge Tool video are ‘upward and onward’ and ‘more time for Sedge Tool’ tone. Sure, the 3 Stooges bit got old, but when he dialed in regarding the product or techniques, he was (is) amazing. I’ve learned a lot from him and wish him the best.
Well, back in 2009, 19 of us went to the first end user training class they had at their new headquarters. Now, of the employees we met during that trip, technically there are no longer any there. I say technically because Minnie - who was such a sweetheart (hopefully that word is not insulting to anyone) and brand ambassador was a temp while we were there but became a full employee soon afterwards and she is still there. And hasn't changed one bit.
Peter
Peter
luvmytoolz
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I really like their "easy listening" no fuss style! Always full of great info usually and a joy to watch, except for maybe the starting theme music on PP's videos that is! ;-)
Crazyraceguy
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In the last few years, they have picked up the live demos at local dealers again, but those could not be considered classes, in any way. Maybe that's on the horizon though?
They just let go their two in house trainers, so I doubt that is on the horizon soon. I too would have loved the resumption of in person training.
Peter
Who else besides Sedge got let go?
4nthony
Member
The only other trainer I'm aware of is Brent Shively (sp?). Hope he's still there as I really enjoyed the build series videos he was a part of.
onocoffee
Member
Did they also release Garrett??
timwors
Member
That's a real shame about Brent, I really enjoyed his videos and he built some interesting projects.
Seems there is a bit of a revolution going on in Festool USA's marketing department. I hope it will get sorted out, as I thought that the USA videos were generally very informative.
Festool UK dropped their association with Peter Parfitt about 2 years ago (I think) and he no longer gets tools for testing/review. I think this was a huge own goal by Festool UK, as Peter was an excellent promoter of their tools "in use" and produces great content. I had thought that Festool UK might be bringing this in-house with their own content. I can see why they would want to have more control over it, but the UK videos are at the opposite end of the energy spectrum to Sedge (and Peter). The presenters know their stuff (I've met two of them in person) but the videos can be rather dull...
Seems there is a bit of a revolution going on in Festool USA's marketing department. I hope it will get sorted out, as I thought that the USA videos were generally very informative.
Festool UK dropped their association with Peter Parfitt about 2 years ago (I think) and he no longer gets tools for testing/review. I think this was a huge own goal by Festool UK, as Peter was an excellent promoter of their tools "in use" and produces great content. I had thought that Festool UK might be bringing this in-house with their own content. I can see why they would want to have more control over it, but the UK videos are at the opposite end of the energy spectrum to Sedge (and Peter). The presenters know their stuff (I've met two of them in person) but the videos can be rather dull...
Zaph
Member
On Garrett's Linkedin page it also says Festool employed until Oct 2025
mino
Member
TLDR:
IMO the problem was the reach. It being TOO BIG /geographically/ for official FUSA content.
E:g. FUSA supporting Sedge&Co doing the same - just sans the official association with "Festool" - is probably much more workable. May have even been hinted some time before .. so Sedge was given time/space to build-up the standalone channel.
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Just guessing ... but here is my hint:
FUSA was doing something global *without* being a global business within the "Festool" organisation. This type of stuff inevitably ends up steppin on others toes - not same kit available worldwide, etc., etc.
For one, it was very unfortunately named - "Festool Live" implies it is a Festool presentation, as in THE Festool as in DA GERMANs .. which it was anything but.
In a US-centered worldview, so universal in the US, this probably did not hit anyone when they came up with the concept. But I am pretty sure it hit the HQ folks immediately - even if the "arrogance" could be passed over, it DID cause mis-information issues with lots of folks by definition. If only for the different tool availability timing of the NA markets.
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