Party tricks that are sure to liven up a company party
Many of you have probably been asked to perform a party trick at company year-end or New Year gatherings.
It’s hard to know what to do for a party trick, and worrying about not getting laughs can make it even harder to decide.
In this article, we introduce recommended party tricks that will liven up company events.
We’ve gathered a variety of ideas, from simple ones you can do right away to more serious acts that require a bit of practice.
If you find something that makes you think, “I could do this,” or “I want to try that,” give it a go!
Recommended party tricks that will liven up a company banquet (1–10)
Talk in your hometown dialect.
Spoken language changes depending on where you live or where you’re from, and some people may have even struggled when their words didn’t get across.
Focusing on dialects from your hometown or the area you lived in, this activity lets people around you experience unfamiliar dialects.
All you have to do is share an episode in your dialect—simple as that—and then ask afterward whether they understood it.
People tend to react when they hear words they recognize, so it could be a great conversation starter from there.
Magic
Magic is a classic feature of party entertainment.
There are all kinds—from simple tricks that even children can do, to difficult ones that leave you puzzled no matter how closely you watch, to psychological tricks that guess the card you chose or the word you wrote.
There are many tutorial videos on video sites and social media, so be sure to check those out as well.
Find a trick you want to try or that looks easy to perform, and give it a go!
two-person robe (Nininbaori): a comedic act where two people share one kimono-like garment, with the rear person acting as the arms for the front person
Nininbaori is a classic party trick, right? If the person showing only their face and the person hidden under the haori, sticking out just their hands, aren’t in sync, they end up spilling food—and that’s what makes it funny.
It looks simple, but it’s surprisingly tricky.
Still, as you practice, you get more in sync, and that’s part of the fun.
If you perform it at a party, you’re guaranteed to see everyone’s smiles! Definitely give it a try.
The key is not to be shy and to go all out.
It’ll surely get the crowd going!
Impressions that are too subtle for anyone to get
Impressions that are too subtle to get across might seem a bit difficult, right? But don’t worry! If you’re doing it at a party, the key is to aim for the element of surprise.
For example, closely observe a celebrity’s quirks or everyday gestures and imitate them just as they are.
People around you might be confused at first, like, “Huh? Who are you doing?” but gradually they’ll go, “Ohhh!” That’s the moment that gets the laughs.
The secret to success is to do it confidently without being shy.
Go for it and give it a try!
Salaryman senryu and tanka
Composing tanka and senryu is popular on TV shows too.
But it can be tough to perform alone unless you’re very confident.
I recommend a participatory format where several people take part and the audience evaluates the results.
You can prepare pieces in advance, or you could have the audience give you prompts on the spot and compose from those.
Put on pants without using your hands
Putting on clothes is an everyday, ordinary action, and we unconsciously use our hands to lift things as we do it.
This challenge is to “seal” the use of hands for putting on clothes and see if you can pull on pants using only twists of your body.
Since lifting is essential for putting on pants, the key point is how that motion is achieved.
Even though the person is seriously trying to put on the pants, to onlookers it can only look like they’re thrashing around—which makes for plenty of entertaining moments!
Oshibori art
Oshibori art is like a magical skill that instantly livens up any party! It’s easy to do, yet incredibly eye-catching.
Just by folding a hand towel into animals or flowers, you’ll have everyone smiling.
The more you practice, the bigger your repertoire gets, turning it into a surprise performance you can use in any situation.
It also sparks conversation, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a classic party trick.
Simple yet memorable—why not give oshibori art a try?