Party acts that hype up the crowd: Recommended entertainment and performances for banquets and drinking parties [2026]
Farewell and welcome parties at work, year-end and New Year gatherings, after-parties with friends, and class reunions.
There are quite a lot of banquets and drinking parties, aren’t there?
They’re basically fun, but there’s one time that troubles new hires, young employees, and juniors… yes, the “entertainment segment”!
People often say, “Do something!” or “Can’t you do something funny?” and you end up covering it with an awkward smile, right?
In this article, we’ll introduce lots of recommended ideas for when you can’t dodge party entertainment, including skits and performances everyone can do together.
Be sure to use it as a reference when you’re in a pinch!
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Buzzworthy party acts: Recommended entertainment and performances for banquets and drinking parties [2026] (21–30)
crushed cardboard
Have you heard of “no-crush cardboard”? It’s a bit performed by the comedian Q-Taro Suzuki as a “once-a-year act that works worldwide.” You take an ordinary cardboard box you can find anywhere, assemble it normally, stand on one of its corners, and by distributing your weight evenly, supposedly you can stand on it without crushing it! But actually, that’s a lie (lol) — no matter how hard you try, you can’t do it! It’s a party trick where you first raise expectations by saying, “You can do this,” then fail—because the failure is what makes it funny!
Chopstick Magic
At parties, a little magic trick can really liven up the atmosphere! This chopstick trick hardly even counts as a “trick,” so once you master the hand movement, it’s easy to perform.
Put your hands together and hold a disposable chopstick between your thumbs.
At first, the chopstick is on top of your hands, but when you flip your hands over, the chopstick ends up underneath—like magic.
You’re really just rotating your hands, but at a glance it makes people go, “Huh? How?” and they’re surprised.
Why not try showing it off at a drinking party or get-together?
Rubik’s Cube
It’s a very simple 3D puzzle where you match the colors on all six faces, but it’s surprisingly difficult.
Since its release in 1997, it has become popular around the world as a toy enjoyed by both children and adults.
Why not use this 3D puzzle to show off a quick party trick? If you can smoothly solve a puzzle that stumps everyone else in an instant, you’re sure to earn a round of applause! There’s a specific method to solving it, so be sure to learn it and practice.
manzai (a traditional Japanese stand-up comedy duo performance)
If you want to do something together with a close colleague or friend, how about trying manzai (a double-act comedy routine)? Pick up timely topics, inside jokes from your company or friend group, or trending themes, and create a fun, talk-centric manzai! If you’re unsure how to start, it’s a good idea to watch real manzai on TV or video sites for reference.
You can learn a lot from various aspects like how to deliver the boke (funny lines), the timing of the tsukkomi (retorts), what the retorts contain, and body movements.
But don’t forget originality—put on a manzai performance that makes everyone smile!
Hige Dance
In the hugely popular show “It’s 8 O’Clock! Everyone Gather Around,” The Drifters’ Cha Kato and Ken Shimura performed the “Hige Dance.” Even among people who aren’t from the Drifters generation, the distinctive routine—wearing black tailcoats and fake mustaches, moving while lifting and lowering both shoulders to the characteristic music known as the “Hige” theme—is well known! And it wasn’t just the dance they performed during the Hige Dance.
They livened up living rooms across the country by doing various tricks in between, like twirling hula hoops and swinging buckets filled with water.
Performing this quintessential Japanese act is sure to delight the Drifters generation and entertain everyone else as well!
Magic using a smartphone
A heart-pounding magic trick that lets you know someone’s smartphone passcode.
You can use it as a magic performance, but it’s also a handy technique if you secretly want to find out a family member’s or partner’s passcode.
It uses the iPhone’s calculator: first, have the person enter their passcode so the performer can’t see it, then have them add a random four-digit number.
After that, by pressing the minus button and then the equals button, you can immediately see the originally entered number—taking advantage of how the calculator works.
flip board comedy
Are you familiar with “flip comedy”? Also known as “mekuri-gei,” it’s a type of performance aimed at getting laughs, where the performer sets out boards or cards with pictures or words and flips through them while doing the act.
Think of it like a picture-story show—kamishibai—and it’s easy to picture! This kind of act can be performed even without a partner, and having the flip cards makes it easier to get the jokes across.
It’s also great for parties with large groups, so if you’re looking to do a comedy bit, feel free to use this as a reference.
Simple material is recommended!
New-hire things people can relate to
Here’s a set of classic “new employee” bits I recommend for anyone looking for a quick, comedy-style gag.
You’ll really feel like you’ve entered the working world with your first taste of the commuter rush, get overwhelmed by quirky peers, and nearly have your spirit broken by the sheer amount you have to learn… It’s full of chuckle-worthy material that mixes joy and struggle.
Each bit is short, so it won’t be too hard to memorize.
Why not team up with your fellow newbies and perform them as sketch comedy? Senior employees who see your material might even give you advice—which could lead to some positive feedback.
Call
If you’re looking for a surefire party trick to get everyone hyped, how about doing a “call”? You sing a song everyone knows, add claps and call-and-response shouts, and encourage people to keep the drinks flowing.
At a party with lots of drink lovers, it’s a fun way to enjoy the booze, and the fact that everyone can sing along is a big plus.
Many banquet venues have karaoke available, so keep that in mind.
This idea uses Masahiko Kondo’s “Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku,” but choosing a song that fits the group’s generation will make it even more popular.
Cheerleading
Have you heard of the “Cheerimans,” formed from Team B of Waseda University’s cheerleading squad? As the name suggests, it’s a team of suit-wearing salarymen performing cheer routines.
In fact, they’re so skilled they’ve even appeared on overseas audition shows.
How about practicing by imitating their performances and showcasing it at a welcome party? Even if big stunts are tough, sharp dance moves and synchronized routines can surprise and move the audience.
You might even inspire people to say, “I want to join next year’s welcome party too!”
