By genre and group size: A must-see for organizers! A catalog of crowd-pleasing activities
There are many occasions where you’re asked to put on a performance, like at wedding after-parties, year-end parties, New Year’s gatherings, and thank-you parties.
We often hear concerns from those in charge of entertainment, such as: “I can’t think of an idea,” or “What kind of act would everyone enjoy together?”
Key points for choosing are: something short and concise, enjoyable for all ages and genders, simple and easy to understand, and not vulgar.
In this article, we’ll introduce recommended entertainment ideas that meet the above criteria.
Wishing you a successful performance and a lively, memorable event!
[By Genre & Group Size] A Must-See for Organizers! A Catalog of Crowd-Pleasing Acts (1–10)
A quiz about everyday sounds everyone has heard
Everyday sounds we usually hear without thinking—household and daily life noises—become the subject of a fast-answer quiz.
It’s easy when you can see what’s making the sound, but even noises you hear every day become tricky when you only listen to the audio! It really makes you realize how spaced out you are and how mindlessly you use appliances and tools.
To increase the difficulty, try reversing the audio or changing its speed.
Gather lots of sounds and give it a try!
Russian roulette
You could call it a party game everyone knows—Russian roulette.
You often see it on TV shows, right? You hide something super spicy—mustard, wasabi, death sauce—inside sweet treats, and whoever eats it hits the jackpot… or loses? It’s a game that tests your sense of challenge and your courage.
It’s fine to stuff store-bought items, but if you make chocolates and hide it inside, there’s no way to tell from the outside which one has it, right? (lol)
line dance
A line dance performed in a single horizontal row.
Known for being showcased by the Takarazuka Revue and in a segment of Ponkikkies, it captivates audiences with perfectly synchronized movements.
How about performing a line dance to flaunt the bonds among your party members? As long as the alignment stays intact, you’re free to choose your props and movements—standing, seated in chairs, using accessories, and more.
Try adding teamwork-driven motions like standing up and sitting down in a wave from one end, or raising and lowering hands.
When everything’s in sync, it looks incredibly cool, so it’s recommended to always record your practice sessions and review the footage.
idol dance
Japan has a wide variety of idols, like Morning Musume, AKB48, and Arashi! They sing and dance, entertaining their listeners.
Many of their dances are catchy and easy for anyone to copy, and sometimes a dance even becomes the key to a hit.
How about performing a dance using songs from those idol groups? Form a small group and practice the choreography of your favorite idol group.
Carefully planning things like formations is one of the keys to making it look cool.
Put on a performance that gets the audience involved and excited!
Parody Song Video
How about putting a message into a song and editing it into footage like a music video? Use a memorable song to capture attention, then deliver the sender’s message clearly through a parody version of the lyrics.
I recommend a choral style where everyone sings together—it conveys that so many people are thinking of you.
Layer it with visuals that revisit places full of memories, and it will likely create an even stronger emotional impact.
Reverse playback movie
This is a video that uses reverse playback to create appearances that would be impossible under normal circumstances.
For example, if you reverse the action of erasing text, it looks like you’re conjuring letters into existence with a wave of your hand, resulting in a uniquely striking visual.
The key point to watch is the performer’s movement: the more deliberately the actions are planned with reverse playback in mind, the more magical the unfolding scenes appear.
Reviving things that have disappeared, acrobatic motions—by stitching together short clips, you can hold the viewer’s gaze firmly on the video.
Magic tricks / Magic show
Magic tricks are a classic choice for entertainment, aren’t they? It’s simply fun and fascinating to watch something mysterious happen.
One great thing about magic is the wide variety of types, making it easy to adapt the performance to the size of the venue—another strong selling point.
These days, there are magic kits you can buy that make it easy to get started, so if you’re interested, definitely check them out.
