A roundup of street performance ideas to liven up year-end and New Year parties

devil stick

[Devil Stick] Master the basic tricks [Juggling] [Chit-chat] [Flower Stick]

You may have seen devil sticks in juggling performances by street entertainers.

The performer uses two hand sticks—one in each hand—to lift, spin, and toss the longest stick, called the center stick, to showcase various tricks.

It’s recommended to start by mastering the basic move called idling, then learn more advanced tricks.

There aren’t that many fundamental techniques, so aim to master the basics and work your way up to performing!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

miyabi

Report a problem

Crystal juggling

Crystal ball juggling performer MASAKI — 2010.4.13. Audi quattro Night

It’s a performance where the crystal ball seems to glide smoothly around the arms and body as if moved by an invisible force.

You can tell it’s driven by fingertip movements, yet the fluid motion creates a mysterious atmosphere.

Maintaining the crystal ball in place while moving the hands around it, for example, relies on how you engage your muscles and control your body.

Also be mindful of hand and finger movements that make the ball appear to be constantly rotating—this is key to conveying a magical, otherworldly feel.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem

Kendama

Beginner (1) Stop and sword

Kendama, which many people probably played with in elementary school, is also known as a traditional Japanese street performance art.

These days there are even world championships, and if you look, you can find plenty of helpful videos, so the barrier to giving it a try isn’t all that high.

It doesn’t take up much space, so I think it can captivate many people even in relatively small venues.

statue

World Cup of Street Performers in Shizuoka 2012: Statue POTE (unedited).

Have you ever seen one in the city or at a theme park? You walk up thinking, “Was there always a statue here?” and… it turns out it’s actually a person dressed as a statue, just standing still! That’s what a ‘statue performance’ is.

Some look like pure white stone figures, others like bronze statues.

Not moving at all is quite difficult, but the toughest part might be not blinking, right? Let’s start by practicing not blinking!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

pantomime

Street performance / Pantomime

Because pantomime expresses everything with just the body and no words, anyone can enjoy it—and it’s guaranteed to get everyone excited! With a bit of practice, anyone can do the “invisible wall” performance.

Acting like you’re being blown away while holding an umbrella or doing slow-motion moves can get laughs with their comedic flair.

If you practice well and perform it, it’s sure to become an unforgettable memory.

Definitely give it a try!

crown

Bucolic Village “Crown”

What exactly is a clown? Is it the name of a street performance trick? You might think so, but “clown” means a jester or comic performer.

The figure everyone knows and commonly calls a “pierrot” is actually one kind of clown; among clowns, the one that expresses sadness is called a “pierrot.” So, let’s fully become clowns who make everyone laugh and try performing various street arts! Even if you can’t do difficult tricks, wearing clown makeup and costumes should be enough to get laughs and liven up the crowd!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

Contact juggling

[Revealed] A street performer explains how to make a crystal ball float (contact juggling)

It’s a type of juggling that makes the ball look like it’s floating through the position of the crystal ball and the movement of the hands.

Using a transparent crystal ball creates unique light refraction, and by arranging your fingers cleverly, you can make it appear to float.

Because you move without changing the position of the heavy crystal ball, the performance requires not only smooth hand movements but also arm strength to keep holding the ball.

In the signature pose where both hands are held out to the sides—the highlight of the act—the ball is pinched between the back thumb and the front ring finger.

In this pose, pay extra attention to finger strength and to how you present it.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem

Stilt

Affordable MDF stilts (for street performance, shows, attracting crowds, and boosting excitement); lightweight, easy to balance, simple

When you go to a theme park or a large big-box store, you sometimes see street performers.

You may have seen this there.

They’re called “stilts,” which apparently means long legs.

Dressed in flashy outfits and using something like bamboo horse stilts, they become over two meters tall.

puppet

Hitachi International Street Performance 2014 – FUNNY BONES “Puppet Comedy” <part 2>

There used to be a solo comedian called Puppet Muppet, and that’s exactly what it is.

It’s been used in puppet shows since long ago.

Some people use large puppets, others use small ones, and some use intricately crafted puppets—there’s a wide variety.

tablecloth trick

Tablecloth pull — in a word, magnificent!!!

This is another classic street performance: the tablecloth pull! The trick is to set the table height to match your waist and yank the cloth out in one swift motion at waist level.

If you hesitate, it won’t work! It’s also important to choose a tablecloth made from a fabric with as little friction as possible.