Activities

Virtual Team Building Events

Activity Description

Bill and the Button Factory Game

Hilariously Funny Group ‘Copy Cat’ activity

Benefits of playing Bill and the Button Factory

  • The game is fun
  • The activity is very energetic
  • It is interactive and has everyone moving
  • You don’t need any props

To get everybody’s attention, have the group gather together because you would like to sing them a song. Inform them that the song is about a friend named Bill and you would like to share it. Get the group to stand close together, so that they can hear properly. Inform the group that the song requires everyone to copy what you say and do.

To get things rolling, provide the group with a test round. Standing in front of everyone say, “Hi” and indicate for them to follow up with the same word.

You say, “Hi”

They repeat back, “Hi”

Everybody should now have the copy cat idea, so you can move on to the actual song. You could download the song, which would help with getting a beat and making it easier to sing along.

The whole activity should go something like:

Hi

 (Hi)

My name is Bill

(My name is Bill)

I have a job and a life in a button factory

(I have a job and a life in a button factory)

One day

(One day)

My Boss came up to me and said

(My Boss came up to me and said)

Hey, Bill

(Hey, Bill)

Are you busy?

(Are you busy?)

Heck no

(Heck no)

Then push these buttons with your Right Hand

Upon reaching the end of the first round of the song, add the correct movement. Take your right hand and make as if you are pushing a button. As with the singing, the group should now follow with the movement. Try to keep everything to the beat of the song, the movements itself can be exaggerated to add a bit of fun.

Begin the song again and each time choose a different part of the body. Go from your right hand to the left, right foot and then the left, the head and lastly the tongue. You could also choose your elbows and knees. By now everybody is looking a bit silly, especially with the last part. Here you have everybody with their tongues out trying to sing all of the words until you reach the end.

When you come to the end and say, “Are you Busy” you will then say, “Heck YES”, which they will repeat. After this everybody should finish off with laughter feeling a bit exhausted, yet good.

You can also add a number of different variations for this activity, for example:

  • Be original: Come up with your own song and different actions
  • Change up the story: Have Bill work at a fire station with movements like climbing a ladder or he works at a gym where he has to pick up weights etc. The aim is to make it fun and just a little bit silly.

Step by Step Instructions for Bill and the Button Factory

  • This is a great energizer activity that should only last 2 -5 minutes
  • Participating groups can be 30 or more
  • You will need the Lyrics to Bill and the Button Factory
  • Assemble the group together and explain to them that you are going to sing some lyrics to a song. Tell the group to repeat the lyrics of the song after you. This should be done clearly and loudly.
  • Sing one line of the song and let the group repeat it back to you, for example:

Hi

My name is Bill

I have a job and a life in a button factory

One day

My Boss came up to me and said

Hey, Bill

Are you busy?

Heck no

Then push these buttons with your….

  • Reaching the end, you can add, push these buttons with your right hand
  • Lift up your hand and make as if pushing a button, your group must then follow suite.
  • Then repeat the lyrics again, but at the end add, with your left hand and make the appropriate movements
  • Repeat the song again and end with right foot, repeat again and add left foot, then your head and finally your tongue.
  • If you want to use different gestures, like elbows or knees instead, you can.
  • Once you repeat the song the last time and you end off with “Are you Busy” say “Heck YES”, which everybody else repeats.
  • Since everybody has been keeping their hands, legs and other body parts moving all the time, at the end of the game, everyone should be laughing and finish off rather exhausted.

Facilitating tips for Bill and the Button factory

This activity should be one at a specific chosen moment, starting out with this one might not be a good idea during a planned program. Rather fit it in somewhere after everyone has become a little bit more comfortable and are more willing to play and even look a bit foolish in the process.

The more enthusiasm and theatrics you put into introducing Bill, the better. The more energy you put in, the more your audience will be energized. You might want to consider playing this activity at the end of the program for the day. You will definitely end off on a high note.

You can have smaller groups, but to get the best effects, a larger group is much more fun and entertaining. Groups of 30 or 300 would make this a fun experience.

Questions, tips and reflections

Some simple questions should help you to find out how the group experienced this fun and silly game.

  • What were you feeling when performing the song and silly movements?
  • Why do you think this game is so much fun?
  • Did anything surprise you during the game?
  • Do you think it is acceptable to behave in a silly manner? Give a reason and explain when you behaved silly.

John And The Button Factory

Basic Details
Property Type : Ice Breakers
Listing Type : Placeholder
Activity Type : Ice Breakers
Focus On : Having Fun
Outcome Based : No, just fun
Facilities : Indoor, Outdoor
Duration : 1 - 5 minutes
Exertion Level : Low
Group Size : 1 - 8, 9 - 16
Age : Children, Youth, Adults