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)
OL things everyone relates to
These are “office lady” skits by impressionist Rei Maruyama.
If you’re an OL, some of these bits will probably feel familiar.
They range from laugh-out-loud gags to slightly dark humor, but they’re packed with those “So true!” moments that make you want to blurt it out.
If you throw yourself into the performance without being shy—like Rei Maruyama—you’re guaranteed to get the crowd going! In a workplace with lots of women, it might resonate even more.
Give it a try!
No-Hand Sunglasses
This party trick, “No-Hands Sunglasses,” is all about taking off the sunglasses you’re wearing without using your hands.
It’s a very surreal kind of party act, but it ties into facial comedy, so it’s really funny to watch! Shaking your head is off-limits—use your facial muscles to move the sunglasses.
It’s impressive if you can make them fall off, but the fun is in the process, so it’s totally fine if they don’t come off in the end! Set a time limit and have several people try it.
It might be a hit if someone who’s usually cool and never makes funny faces gives it a shot.
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?
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!
Freestyle rap (improvised rap)
With some freestyle rap, let’s turn the party up and heat up the room! If you’ve rapped before, just go with the vibe and weave together whatever words come to mind.
If it’s your first time, it’s best to practice beforehand.
Even if you decide what to rap about on the day, practice at least how to connect words and how to rhyme.
You can find rhyming words from things around you, make raps about what’s on TV, or mimic actual rap tracks—there are lots of ways to practice.
Try doing a battle-style session with a few people and get everyone hyped!
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!
Childhood Photo Quiz
As the name suggests, it’s a quiz where you show childhood photos and guess who they are—a game that’s guaranteed to get everyone excited.
As long as you have the photos ready, you can project them on a screen and let everyone join in the guessing.
You can use clues like the person’s features, the era, and even people or backgrounds captured in the photo, making it a deep and fun challenge.
