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September 12, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How can you tell if a violin is out of tune?”/“The bow is moving.”

A riddle about a string instrument (such as a violin or a viola) is: Q: How can you tell if a violin is out of tune?A: The bow is moving. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1992.…

September 14, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How can you tell when a tenor is really stupid?”/“When the other tenors notice.”

A tenor riddle is: Q: How can you tell when a tenor is really stupid?A: When the other tenors notice. The tenor joke was posted on the newsgroup rec.music.classical on May 5, 1993. Wikipedia:…

May 4, 2020
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How did Darth Vader know what Luke got him for his birthday?”/“He felt his presents.”

A Star Wars riddle is: Q: How did Darth Vader know what Luke got him for his birthday?A: He felt his presents. Christmas (instead of birthday) is also used in the riddle. The pun is using…

March 12, 2016
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How did the Irish jig get started?”/“Lots of beer and only one bathroom.”

A popular St. Patrick's Day joke about Irish dancing is: Q: How did the Irish jig get started?A: Lots of beer and only one bathroom. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1996.…

December 26, 2015
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How did you become a star?” (joke)

A popular joke about an actor/performer is: Q: How did you become a star?A: I started out in a gaseous state, and then I cooled. The joke has been credited to American television host and comedian…

April 20, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do chickens dance?”/“Chick to chick.”

The song "Cheek to Cheek" (1935) by Irving Berlin (1888-1989) popularized "dancing cheek-to-cheek." A riddle is: Q: How do cjhickens dance?A: Chick to chick. The riddle has been…

April 4, 2020
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do dancers ensure job continuity during the Covid crisis?”/“They twerk from home.”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic forced many people to work from home. The joke "twerk from home" had been used earlier, but was popularized during this time. "Twerk From…

October 18, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do know a clarinet player is playing loud?”/“You can almost hear them.”

A clarinet riddle is: Q: How do know a clarinet player is playing loud?A: You can almost hear them. The joke has been cited in print since at least 2007. Klosi JokesCategory: Music jokesDate Added:…

April 7, 2018
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do you catch a drummer?”/“With a snare.”

A drummer riddle is: Q: How do you catch a drummer?A: With a snare. "How do you catch a drummer? a really tight snare! (ba-dun-shhh)" was posted on Twitter on March 31, 2010. "How do…

November 28, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do you cover 12 holes with one hole?” (flute joke)

A flute riddle is: Q: How do you cover 12 holes with one hole? A: Take a flute and shove it up your ass. A form of the joke was posted on the newsgroup AFMC Group A Batch on March 29, 2012. Google…

July 23, 2021
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do you fix a broken sousaphone?”/“With a tuba glue.”

"Tuba" sounds like "tube of." A riddle was printed in many newspapers in 1994: Q: What do you use to fix a broken tuba?A: A tuba glue! The riddle is often worded as this: Q: How…

July 22, 2021
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do you fix a broken tuba?”/“With a tuba glue.”

"Tuba" sounds like "tube of." A riddle was printed in many newspapers in 1994: Q: What do you use to fix a broken tuba?A: A tuba glue! The riddle is often worded as this: Q: How…

March 6, 2015
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do you get a guitarist to turn down the volume?” (joke)

Can guitar players read music? A popular joke is: Q. How do you get a guitar player to play softer?A. Give him a sheet of music. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1992. Google Groups:…

August 28, 2014
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do you get an actor off your front porch?” (joke)

Many jokes have been told about unemployed actors. One popular joke is: Q: How do you get an actor off your front porch?A: Pay him for the pizza. The joke has been cited in print since at least…

August 6, 2019
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do you get an actor to complain?”/“Give him a job.”

Actors aren't happy when they're out of work, and many still complain when they do find work. "Here's a joke: How do you make an actor bitch? Give him a job." was printed…

October 5, 2016
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do you get an elephant out of the theater?”/“You can’t. It’s in his blood.”

It's often said that actors have acting in their blood. There's a joke: Q: How do you get an elephant out of the theater?A: You can't. It's in his blood. The joke has been cited…

January 15, 2025
Education/SchoolsMusic/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do you get into the School of Rock?”/“You rock enroll.”

School of Rock is a 2003 comedy film directed by Richard Linklater. A "rock and roll" pun was posted on X/Twitter by LaughBreak || Dad Jokes ‘N More on August 29, 2023, and again on…

July 5, 2004
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” (joke)

"How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" is a question visitors often ask. Old-time New Yorkers can provide the punchline: "Practice!" The joke has been cited in print since 1955.…

January 7, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do you keep a violin from getting stolen?”/“Put it in a viola case.”

A popular riddle about the viola is: Q: How do you keep a violin from getting stolen?A: Put it in a viola case. In other words, no one would steal a viola. THe joke has been cited in print since at…

March 10, 2015
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How do you know if there’s a lead singer outside your door?” (joke)

A classic joke is told about a singer (or a bad musician): Q: How do you know if there's a lead singer outside your door? A: You don't: She can't find the key and doesn't know…

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BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

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