Are you wondering what to perform for entertainment at your year-end or New Year’s party? The classic acts are great, but how about switching things up and trying a street performance? Street performance actually has tons of elements that can really liven up a party! In this article, we’ve gathered a wide variety of street performance ideas you can choose from to match the venue’s vibe and your own strengths.
Many of these performances do require practice, but with solid preparation and a focus on safety, you’re sure to wow everyone at your year-end or New Year’s party!
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A roundup of street performance ideas that liven up year-end and New Year parties (1–10)
shaker cup
“Shaker cups” are a form of juggling where you hold one cup in each hand and toss and catch them between your hands.
There are various tricks such as inside circles, outside circles, cup releases, and cascades—give them a try! There are many flashy moves, like throwing two cups at the same time or adding a spin before catching, so you’re sure to bring the house down at parties.
Start by finding a set of juggling cups that feel comfortable in your hands.
roller balance
Would you like to try a classic street-performer skill: the roller balance? You stack a flat board on a cylindrical roller and stand on top while keeping your balance.
Since losing balance can be dangerous, practice in a wide, uncrowded area.
First, hold onto a handrail and step on one foot at a time to find your balance.
It’s easier if you open your knees and lean slightly forward.
Once you’ve got the feel for it, remove the handrail and try again, this time pressing down on the board with both hands as you ride.
yo-yo
We’re introducing yo-yo tricks that are easy for beginners to try.
If you can show off some cool moves with a portable yo-yo, you’ll be the center of attention at parties.
Men in particular might feel a wave of nostalgia.
The featured set includes 10 tricks, such as Gravity Pull, Long Sleeper, Around the World, Tower, and Inside Loop.
They’re presented in order from easiest to harder, so practice and master them one by one.
Umbrella spinning
Let me introduce kasa-mawashi, the umbrella-spinning performance you often see on TV around New Year’s.
Tracing its roots back, this act is said to have originated as one of the dance pieces used in Shinto rituals.
The items used are relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain, so it’s a fairly approachable art to try.
Put on a kimono, spin various flashy objects, and let’s hope your luck will spin upward in the coming year!
Diavolo
In street performances, one act that’s popular in China as well is the diabolo, also known as the Chinese yo-yo.
The performer throws it up into the air and catches it with a string stretched between two sticks.
They showcase tricks while moving energetically to music.
Let’s captivate the audience with a rapid-fire display of flashy, well-paced techniques.
plate spinning
It’s a trick where you keep a plate spinning on a stick.
It looks difficult at first glance, but there seem to be simple kits you can buy, so using one of those is a good option.
Since you can do it anywhere as long as you have a plate and a stick, it’s perfect for venues like year-end parties.
And if you practice and can spin not just one but three at the same time, it’s sure to be a huge hit.
Juggling
How about livening up the venue with some juggling? Watching balls dance through the air will captivate everyone’s eyes.
It may look easy, but it actually takes patience and practice.
That’s why the sense of accomplishment when you show your results is incredible! The higher the balls soar, the more the audience will respond with amazement and applause—no doubt about it.
Give it a try!
Dice stacking
This is a performance you can do on a tabletop using a cup and dice.
The classic routine involves quickly scooping up dice placed on the table with a shaken cup, and when you lift the cup, the dice are stacked.
Techniques like how you catch the dice and how you move your wrist are important, and a key point is that anyone can do it with practice.
There are also variations, such as tossing the dice in one by one or stacking them on unstable surfaces, so why not look up some examples and give it a try?
balloon art
Balloon art is a relatively easy-to-start street performance that brings smiles to both children and adults.
The tools are inexpensive and readily available, making it easy to get into.
From cute dogs and flowers to highly complex creations, it’s a craft with great depth.
cigar box
There are several fundamentals of street performance.
One of them is called the cigar box.
I think everyone has seen it before.
It’s a juggling technique that uses three rectangular boxes.
If you master it, you can reportedly use more than ten boxes and catch them in a way that links together horizontally.