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November 8, 2016
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a group of whales playing instruments?”/“An orca-stra.”

An orchestra riddle is: Q: What do you call a group of killer whales playing musical instruments?A: An orca-stra. The joke was published in Boys' Life magazine in May 1996. Wikipedia: Killer…

February 15, 2016
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a guitar player who only knows two chords?”/“A music critic.”

A popular joke about music critics is: Q: What do you call a guitar player who only knows two chords?A: A music critic. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1997. Google Groups:…

August 21, 2018
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a homeless woodwind?”/“A hoboe.”

An "oboe" (a woodwind instrument) should not be confused with a "hobo." "Hoboe" (hobo + oboe) was entered in the Urban Dictionary on July 21, 2006. "What is the…

August 4, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a laughing piano?”/“A Yamahahahahaha.”

The Yamaha Corporation is the world's largest piano manufacturing company. A joke on the Yamaha name -- haha -- is: Q: What do you call a laughing piano?A: A Yamahahahahaha. The…

February 2, 2018
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a line dancer on a cruise?”/“An ocean liner.”

A line dancer riddle is: Q: What do you call a line dancer on a cruise?A: An ocean liner. The joke has been cited in print since at least 2007. SL-T.netCategory: Dance jokesDate Added:…

January 14, 2020
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a magician who has lost his magic?”/“Ian.”

A magician riddle is: Q: What do you call a magician who has lost his magic?A: Ian. "What do you call a magician who does not know any magic? - Ian" was posted on Twitter by ItsAntYo! on…

June 8, 2021
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a math balled?”/“A musical number.”

A math riddle is: Q: What do you call a math balled?A: A musical number. The joke was posted on Facebook by Zachary Dykeman on June 4, 2021. FacebookZachary Dykeman asked a question .June 4, 2021…

November 8, 2016
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a microbiologist in an orchestra?”/“A cell-ist.”

An orchestra riddle about a cellist is: Q: What do you call a microbiologist in an orchestra?A: A cell-ist. The joke was posted to Twitter on May 17, 2014. TwitterLeah Ran‏@leahaelrWhat do you…

July 20, 2021
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a musical instrument made of gelatin?”/“A jello!”

"Cello" and "jello" look like similar words, but one is a musical instrument and one is a food. A riddle is: Q: What do you call a musical instrument made of gelatin?A: A jello!…

August 18, 2015
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a musician without a girlfriend?”/“Homeless.”

"What do you call a drummer without a girlfriend? Homeless!" is a popular joke that has been printed on ecards. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1992 and has been told…

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

“What do you call a part-time orchestra leader?”/“A semi-conductor.”

"Semiconductor: A part-time orchestra leader" was posted on the newsgroup misc.legal on February 16, 1992. "'It was not so long ago,' said the politico Geraldine Ferraro,…

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

“What do you call a person who plays the viola?”/“A violator.”

A person who plays the viola is called a "violist" or simply a "viola player." However, a popular joke is: Q: What do you call a person who plays the viola? A: A violator. The…

May 5, 2018
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a short musician in the subway?”/“A metro-gnome.”

"Metronome" should not be confused with "metro gnome," but there have been many jokes. A "Metro Gnome" joke was posted on the newsgroup alt.callahans on November 13,…

December 26, 2016
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a singing elf?”/“A wrapper.”

Elves wrap toys, and there's a Christmas riddle: Q: What do you call a singing elf?A: A wrapper (rapper). "What do you call an elf than can sing ?........ A wrapper!" was posted to…

June 19, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a woman who follows the NY Philharmonic around?”/“A symphomaniac.”

"Symphomaniac" (symphony + nymphomaniac) is a portmanteau word that has been printed in several jokes. The word was posted on the newsgroup rec.arts.marching.drumcorps on November 6,…

December 10, 2025
Holidays/Events/ParadesMusic/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a woman who won’t stop singing Christmas songs?”/“Carolyn.”

A Christmas riddle is: Q: What do you call a woman who won’t stop singing Christmas songs? A: Carolyn. "Carolyn" is a pun on the word "caroling." The joke was posted on Reddit…

July 18, 2019
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call an accordion player with a beeper?”/“An optimist.”

A classic joke about accordion players was printed in Herb Caen's column in the San Francisco (CA) Chronicle, on March 22, 1993: "Comedian Ronnie Schell at the Washbag Thurs. night,…

July 18, 2019
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call an accordion player with a pager?”/“An optimist.”

A classic joke about accordion players was printed in Herb Caen's column in the San Francisco (CA) Chronicle, on March 22, 1993: "Comedian Ronnie Schell at the Washbag Thurs. night,…

October 10, 2020
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call an average comic?”/“A co-median.”

"Comedian" has nothing to do with a "median," but there are "co-median" jokes. "Statistical inference joke - why are two medians in a single data set funny?…

January 27, 2018
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call it when Father Christmas claps his hands at the end of a play?”/“Santapplause.”

"Santapplause" (Santa Claus + applause) is a Christmas portmanteau word. "Broadway Santapplause" was used by New York-born gossip columnist Walter Winchell (1897-1972) in 1946.…

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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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