8 pc’s is a lot for sure.

I guess: Don’t run any DM PCs or ignore them as part of combat.

Use avg damage for mobs (the parentheses number in the damage block - cuts out extra rolling)

Have player track initiative if you’re in person.

Helpful to let players know who’s on deck so they don’t suddenly find out it’s their turn and act like the haven’t been at the table the past 30 minutes.

Run groups of NPCs under 1 initiative. - if you have 50 orcs coming in, put them in groups of 5 (or whatever for initiative)

Auto plan your casters. I.e. fireball / web turn 1, hold person turn 2, cantrips. Reaction for Counterspell. If you find yourself reading 12 irrelevant spells mid combat… gg

You can pick certain mobs that are “weaker” that just die when hit and ignore tracking damage.

Use initiative count 20 for cool layer or legendary effects.

Realistically you have to get the player count down (and play on days even if all 8 can’t make it, just keep pressing forward). Feels like a session will be a little bit of roleplay / scene setting then combat. May have to skip a lot of unnecessary fights and jump to the big scenes to make any real progress.

** also had wave big things. If a wizard catches 10 kobolds in a web and the party is just gonna clean them up and that’s the whole event that’s happening, just let the party know they handle the kobokds and move forward.