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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Party tricks that liven things up. Recommended entertainment and performances for parties and drinking gatherings [2026] (71–80)
Banzai
Even just doing a banzai can make for a fine performance.
To begin with, “banzai” refers to raising both hands while shouting “banzai.” It’s generally done three times, though there doesn’t seem to be a strict rule.
Because banzai conveys the meaning of celebrating something auspicious, it’s perfect as entertainment for celebratory occasions! By the way, there’s also a stronger expression, “banban-zai.” Why not mix it in when you use it? Alternatively, you could look up the formal hand movements and try doing it in a more authentic way.
TT Brothers
The star “TT Brothers,” born from the variety show Ariyoshi no Kabe.
They’re characters played by the well-known comedy duo Chocolate Planet, and thanks to the TT Brothers they’ve appeared in lots of commercials.
Why not liven up your party with the TT Brothers everyone knows? Their cosplay is easy to copy—just a T-shirt, wigs, and makeup.
All you have to do after that is find something shaped like a “T” at the venue and end it with a drawn-out “Teeee.” If there’s no object, a person’s name works too—if someone named Takeda is there, you can do “Takeda-san’s Teeee,” and it lands.
It’s a recommended bit for anyone unsure what to do!
tambourine performance
This is a routine by Gonzo, who gained attention for his tambourine performance act.
Set to 1980s J-pop like Rebecca’s signature song “Friends” and Anri’s “CAT’S EYE,” he keeps a poker face while striking the tambourine intensely.
He wraps up by taking off his glasses and doing a face smash.
It’s a party act that can be enjoyed solo or with a group.
Improvised nickname giving
The act that made model Karen Takizawa famous for spontaneously giving people nicknames.
Hiroiki Ariyoshi is also known for doing it, and if you master it and can deliver something stylish and witty, it could really liven things up.
It could easily go wrong if you misstep, but since it relies solely on verbal skill, some people might have a natural talent for it.
Still, I’d love to hone my own sensibility and give it a try.
Rubber band magic
It’s a magic trick where two rubber bands are intertwined and seem to be tightly knotted, but in an instant they come apart.
This video reveals the secret behind the trick.
Once you understand the principle, anyone can do it easily and I think it’s a great way to grab attention.
air guitar
When you’re stuck for a performance idea, I highly recommend air guitar! Air guitar is such a form of entertainment that there’s even a world championship.
And if you’re going to do air guitar, I think making the performance as flashy as possible will really liven things up.
So pick some heavy metal or rock, play along while headbanging, and get the party going.
The best thing about air guitar is that you can improvise.
If you suddenly get asked to do a quick show and find yourself in a bind, break the ice with some air guitar!
parody song
This time, we’re introducing a classic party trick: parody songs.
Rather than singing ability, the key is the creativity of how you change the lyrics, so it’s recommended even for those who aren’t confident singers.
Of course, if you write lyrics that poke fun at someone, be careful not to kill the mood of the room.
Pen Vanish Magic
This is a disappearing pen magic trick.
When it comes to party entertainment or performances, magic is a must.
And this is one you’ll want to perform smoothly to amaze everyone.
Prepare two identical pens, hide one under the table, and skillfully use both to make it look like the pen has vanished.
Of course, the technique matters, but magic also relies heavily on performance—keeping a cool face and not giving anything away is a key part of the entertainment—so you’ll definitely need some prep and practice time.
The more you practice, the more you can be sure the trick won’t be exposed and the party will liven up.
Start preparing early so you can perform it anytime during the party!
Gesture Game
Let’s liven things up with a gesture game you can play anywhere as long as you have paper and a pen! It’s that thing you often see on TV variety shows.
Write a prompt on a piece of paper and show it to the person who will act it out.
Of course, they can only use gestures—no speaking allowed.
If you make the prompts into full sentences or more complex phrases, the difficulty goes way up.
Using inside jokes as prompts also makes it a lot of fun!
arm wrestling
An arm-wrestling tournament that gets everyone fired up, regardless of gender.
It’s a game you can enjoy with just one arm! Having a prize ready for the winner might make it even more exciting.
If your budget allows, getting a dedicated arm-wrestling table will add to the atmosphere.