A show-stopping party trick that energizes the crowd at a school cultural festival
What would you do if you were asked to perform a quick party trick at a school festival or cultural festival?
If you’re someone who already excels at a particular skill or has a special talent, you can jump in without hesitation.
But there are probably some people who feel like, “I don’t have anything I can show others… I’d rather not,” and want to turn it down.
In this article, we’ll introduce quick and fun performances recommended for cultural festivals that might come in handy in exactly those situations.
We’ve gathered plenty of ideas, from things you can do right away with no practice to ones that could become a neat specialty once you learn them.
If you’re thinking, “I want to do something, but I don’t know what,” be sure to use this as a reference!
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One-hit gags that hype up the crowd at cultural and school festivals (81–90)
Umbrella spinning
Umbrella spinning is an entertainment act that incorporates elements of traditional street performance.
The performer balances objects on the handle of an umbrella and spins them.
It’s important to secure a spacious area at the cherry-blossom viewing site and keep the audience at a safe distance.
You can make it even more exciting by changing the types of items you spin or having two people spin at the same time.
Increasing the number of items or raising the difficulty step by step will heighten tension and anticipation.
It’s also recommended to incorporate spring-themed props and perform under cherry trees or in spots with a river view.
singing with self-accompaniment
Singing while accompanying yourself on instruments like the acoustic guitar or piano is called “solo accompaniment” or “singing with self-accompaniment.” If you can play guitar or piano, why not give it a try? These days there are many artists who perform this way, so if you’re unsure what to sing, try covering their songs and challenge yourself!
papercutting
Papercutting is one of Japan’s traditional performing arts that has long been beloved.
Using scissors to keep cutting into a single sheet of paper, an image is completed in no time at all.
In classic papercutting performances, artists may take requests from the audience, but at a school festival it’s more than enough to amaze people by presenting pieces you’ve practiced in advance! In papercutting, the skill of completing the cutout on the spot is important, but equally essential is the patter that keeps the audience entertained while you cut.
Be sure to practice not only your papercutting technique but also some witty banter, and captivate as many spectators as you can!
rakugo (traditional Japanese comic storytelling)
I imagine many people, especially students and other young folks, aren’t very familiar with rakugo.
So why not perform it at your school festival to share how entertaining it can be? You could go with a classic, time-honored rakugo piece, or create an original, easy-to-understand story tailored for beginners.
Either way, practice well and make sure to delight your audience.
Showcasing rakugo, a traditional Japanese performing art, would be a very fitting idea for a cultural festival.
A tennis ball on the forehead
I tilt my head all at once while keeping a tennis ball balanced on my forehead, yet the ball stays perched beside my face.
I shake my head left and right, but it shows no sign of falling.
Then, still with the ball on my forehead, I spin my whole body.
It’s a one-shot trick like a street performance.
Yuru-chara Challenge
The world of yuru-chara has many devoted fans.
Do you know Gudetama, the egg character? With its distinctive voice and laid-back lines, it’s hugely popular, especially among young women.
Let’s try a challenge where you become that character.
If you imitate the voice and put a bit of effort into the costume, you’re sure to get some laughs.
Don’t be shy, okay?
One-hit gags that excite audiences at cultural and school festivals (91–100)
rubber band snap
Don’t you often see it as a punishment game on TV variety shows? Two people each hold one end of a rubber band in their mouths, then slowly move farther apart until one of them lets go—the rubber snaps and hits the other person in the face.
It’s an old-school punishment game, a kind of play, right? How about making that your act? Present it like a short skit—add a touch of comedy and create a suspenseful pause to build tension.
The audience will be on the edge of their seats, excited and totally fired up!
