Live Music Game Show
Name That Beat
A live music game styled like Beat Shazam. A short clip plays through the speakers, the clock starts, and two teams race to buzz in and name the song before the other team does. Multi-era playlists, real buzzers, a live host, and a big-screen scoreboard. Every correct answer gets a reaction from the whole room.
What It Is
Name That Beat is a live hosted music recognition game show. Two teams take their positions at buzzer stations. The host cues a short audio clip, the crowd hears it, and both teams race to buzz in first. The first team to buzz correctly earns the points. A clip that stumps the room builds into a moment nobody forgets.
The multi-era playlist structure is what makes the room feel alive from start to finish. Top 40 rounds put the younger guests in the lead. The 80s and 90s rounds swing the advantage to the parents, aunts, and uncles who have been waiting for their shot. Every generation in the room gets at least one category where they are the experts, and mixed-generation rounds create the best moments of the night.
For events with a specific music identity, custom playlists turn the game into something the guest of honor actually owns. A bar mitzvah can feature the kid's entire Spotify top plays. A corporate holiday party can run a company-decades set where the clips correspond to milestones in the company's history. The host reads each clip reveal in a way that makes every correct answer feel earned.
Where It Works
Name That Beat leads with mitzvahs and corporate events, where multi-generational music competition creates the sharpest energy. It works across every event type where music is already central to the celebration.
How Long It Runs
Name That Beat runs in open format for a cocktail hour or as a featured main-event segment with a bracket and a crowned champion, typically 30 to 60 minutes. Clip-round format creates fast natural pacing: one clip, one buzz, one point, next clip. The host controls the energy between rounds so the game never drags. Custom playlist configuration is completed before the event begins.
What's Included
Every Name That Beat booking includes the full buzzer hardware, the sound system for clip playback, the big-screen display, custom playlist build, the host, and complete event-day logistics.
Real Buzzers and Fast-Response Hardware
Teams answer from dedicated buzzer stations. The hardware registers split-second differences, so there is never a disputed first-buzz. Speed matters and the technology reflects that.
Multi-Era Playlist Library
Top 40, 80s hits, 90s R&B and pop, 2000s chart music, and current releases are all built in. Custom playlists for specific artists, decades, or personal significance are added for each event.
Big-Screen Scoreboard
Team scores and round standings display live on a large screen visible to the entire room. Every correct buzz updates the board in real time, giving the audience a clear read on the competition at every moment.
Professional Live Host
A dedicated MC runs every round: cueing clips, ruling on buzzes, building anticipation before each reveal, and driving the energy between rounds. The host is what separates a music game from a music trivia night.
Team and Individual Formats
Run classic two-team competition for the biggest crowd moments, or open it to individual contestants for a more personal format. Both work with the same hardware and the same host.
Full Setup and Breakdown
All hardware, speakers, and display are delivered, installed, and removed by our team. Power and audio requirements are confirmed during booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about adding Name That Beat to your event.
How short are the song clips in Name That Beat?
Each clip is a 5 to 10 second burst from a recognizable part of the song, typically the intro hook or the chorus. The clip is short enough to create real pressure but long enough that anyone who knows the song has a fair shot at buzzing in. The host can adjust clip length based on the difficulty of the round.
Can the playlist be customized for our event?
Yes. We build a custom playlist around your celebration: the guest of honor's favorite artists for mitzvahs, a company-decades set for corporate events, or any specific era or genre mix you choose. Custom playlists are configured before the event so the host arrives with a deck that already belongs to your guests.
What age groups does Name That Beat work for?
Name That Beat is one of the strongest multi-generational games in the catalog because the multi-era playlist gives every generation a category where they excel. Kids and teenagers lead on current Top 40. Adults take over on 80s and 90s rounds. Mixed-generation rounds create natural cross-table competition and conversation that continues long after the game ends.
How does the buzzer system work?
Teams compete from dedicated buzzer stations. Each buzzer is connected to the scoring system and registers the first press with precise timing. The display updates immediately so the room sees the result. The host manages the ruling and keeps the round moving.
Can Name That Beat run as a cocktail-hour station and as a main-event segment?
Yes. In cocktail-hour format, it runs as an open station where guests step up in rotating teams without a formal bracket. As a main-event segment, the host runs structured rounds with a cumulative scoreboard and announces a winner to the room. We coordinate the format with your program at booking.
Ready to Add Name That Beat to Your Event?
Tell us about your event and we will confirm availability, playlist options, and format preferences for your celebration.
Serving NYC, Connecticut, Westchester, the Hamptons, New Jersey, and destinations worldwide.
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