Games! Games! We've got games! In fact, we don't play around when we play games! You want games? Well, then, heeeere we go!

Be advised that the array of games in the world one can choose from is quite infinite. Therefore, what we've done here is chosen the most popular diversions culled from all my years of experience. This list is in no way final.

Coke And Pepsi-The most requested of games for the kids, especially at Bar / Bat Mitzvahs. And the funny thing is, no two groups of children seem to agree on how it should be played. This game originally started out playing by splitting the players into two groups of girls vs. boys. The DJ would play a little music and then stop the music, explaining that this would be the time the DJ would either yell out 'Coke' or 'Pepsi', Coke, signifying that the boys should get on one knee while the girls were to find an empty knee to sit on. The last one to find an empty knee and/or those who couldn't find a knee would be counted 'out'. If 'Pepsi' was yelled, then the visa-versa should occur. Other versions had the DJ calling out "7-Up" to get contenders to freeze or else be called out, and then "Dr. Pepper" meant that people should gather in a huddle in the middle of the dance floor, and the last one was out. Still don't recognize your version yet? How about if team one runs across the floor to team two looking for an open seat, and visa-versa? Perhaps 'Dr. Pepper' indicates to find someone to stand back to back to and then link arms with, or maybe '7-Up' calls for players to ' dos-e-doe', and then run back to the end of the dance floor.

Either way, I have decided to re-tool the versions using 'Dr. Pepper' and '7-Up' because I've found this to be too injurious. Youngins' were slamming into other contestants and being swung across the floor as if they were dancing in a mosh pit at some punk rock concert. Seeing parent's jaws dropping indicated that perhaps this pastime wasn't worth our insurance premium.

Movie Soundtrack Trivia-This tests the audio recall-association knowledge of everyone who wants to participate. In English, it means guess which movie the song I'm playing comes from. 

All participants are cleared off the dance floor, noting that anyone stepping on the dance floor before the track is played will be disqualified. A microphone is placed on a stool or chair  in front of the DJ area as players who recognize soundtracks are instructed to be the first to chime in. Volunteer observers are asked to be in charge of choosing who, in their opinion, picked up the mic first and who gets the chance to answer. Fights over the mic tend to break out. If anyone that is not chosen who yells out any answer before the volunteer's selected contestant does, all players are disqualified for that song and then we move on to the next. A prize is handed (or thrown) out for each correct answer.

Pudgy Bunny - This game is a knock-down,  laugh-out-loud, unbelievably amazingly funny riot of a game to watch that just begs to be photographed and documented for family posterity. Better grab your camera, because this game intends to ascertain which party goer is best suited to retain the most high-fructose material within their facial cavity; In other words, who's got the biggest mouth! 

Each contestant (preferably no more than 10 to 15; No one with teeth-work) initially receives one marshmallow, from me and one adult volunteer, to place into their mouth. All are instructed not to chew, swallow or 'masticate' their marshmallow. There is a garbage can strategically placed within common view and in front of all those participating; The reason for this will become apparent. The next task for each player is to audibly and successfully say, into a microphone provided before them, this easy phrase: "Pudgy Bunny". Sound easy? Sure. But now, each participator receives another TWO marshmallows and told to try this phrase again. It actually gets tougher. The next round, they receive another THREE mallows, and so on and so on. Soon, you have people put in a position that they've never been put before: Their faces are streaming with white, pasty goo and yuck rolling down their chins as they struggle to utter words that only moments ago seemed so easy to tackle.  Sometimes, those that are filled with too much laughter, blocked by those pillows of sugar in their mouths, have no alternative but to run for the garbage can before them and expectorate the contents of their maw; They gotta spit it out! Before long, the group of contenders is whittled down to a mere few, and then finally, we get two champions, who are subsequently dubbed the winners, and then announced as those with the 'biggest mouths in the room'. How nice.

Yes. This game has its dangers. There are many entertainers that choose to avoid this game because of word of mishaps that have occurred in the past. I can sincerely say that I have been performing this amusement safely and uneventfully  for over 15 years now, and have never had a single problem. A watchful eye (and sometimes, a hand) is always kept on all that play.  If you don't have a problem with this game as described and if you can trust my abilities as an eyeful official, then this diversion is strongly recommended as a highlight to your party.

Pyramid 21 - Adopted from Bryan Foley Entertainment, Pinellas. This a relay race using plastic picnic cups to construct a pyramid. Three teams are formed and lined up across the floor from a traffic cone that is holding a stack of 21 plastic cups, colored for their team (red, green or white). At the whistle, the first person in line runs across the floor, grabs a cup, runs to the center of the floor and places it on the ground  to begin constructing a pyramid. They then run to the back of line as the next person in procession goes to do the same thing until the pyramid is complete. The runner waiting for their teammate to return cannot proceed until he/she tags up at the starting line. The team with the first completed structure wins. How  the pyramid is structured is unimportant, as long as the configuration is a standing pyramid. AND, OF COURSE, if somehow,  the construction is toppled, the person guilty for the "de-construction" must pick up the cups and place them in a stack BACK ON THE TRAFFIC CONE as their team is required to begin again. 

Mummy Wrap - This old picnic-time stand-by is still as popular as ever; Self-explanatory, yet played differently where ever you go. I like to have up to six teams, choosing one person per team to be the 'wrapee', each using a different brand of toilet paper (I.E. The Charmin Team vs. the Scott Team vs. The Ultra-Quilted Northern Team, etc) to the tune of "Walk Like An Egyptian". The guest of honor and a friend usually do the judging honors.

Limbo - The world famous game from the islands! The way I usually like to do this is by putting on a long version of Miami Sound Machine's 'Conga', as I dance out on to the dance floor with a pole, non-verbally instructing all those who wish to participate to come on up and form a line. I might get a volunteer to help me hold up the pole as we incrementally lower its height while the line recycles ("Limbo liddle LOWER, now").  Please note: This activity, as fun as it is, tends to be impossible to organize to the point where time can be found to come up with an actual 'winner'. So, the way I tend to do it, no one is counted out so that all can get back on line to try again. However, if desired,  this event can be structured as an elimination contest with a final prize awarded.

Twist -   has always enticed dancers to the floor, but here, I'll reward one male and one female that most impresses me in twisting technique. I tend to look for originality. 

Lip-Sync Contest - Not exactly Karaoke; This game requires that you pretend to know and sing a song. Participants are put into teams as the guest of honor (plus a friend) is made to be the judge while each group will come up and attempt to 'mouth' to a song that I have secretly chosen. The fun part tends to be which song I might choose. The  tune may be conventional, or it could be bizarre. Either way, the squad that best represents the selection wins. Another version of this game has the teams choosing the songs they want.

Mystery Songs - Kind of like 'Name That Tune'. The first few moments of a popular song is played so that players can name the tune. Each correct answer gets a prize. For the young ones, the songs will be whatever's currently playing on the radio. You would be amazed at how keen and attune kids are as they knock down each title like flies just from the opening notes.

Red Light - Green Light - The participants gather at one end of the dance floor while the DJ yells "green light." At this command, the crowd moves forward as quickly as possible. At intermittent intervals, the DJ yells, "red light." At this command, the crowd is to immediately stop. If the DJ (or volunteer judge) sees anyone moving (running a red light), they must return to the starting point and try again. The first player to reach the finish line without running a red light is the winner.

Statues - Similar to 'Red Light - Green Light', the DJ plays music while intermittently unexpectingly stopping it. When the music stops, the crowd immediately freezes into whatever position they are in. Those that move are out of the game. The pace gets faster, and the castoffs become greater.

Balloon Dance - A fun elimination game: A balloon is placed between two dancers who do not otherwise make contact. Couples must move energetically to the music, keeping the balloon intact. If the balloon touches the ground or escapes their grasp, they are asked to leave the floor. The final duo receives a prize.

Hula Hoops - Must I explain this? Oh, well, okay. Whoever can hula hoop the best and/or longest wins. Guest of honor judges. Need I say more?