I rattle on a lot about religion and politics but I don’t post enough about music. I could go a long way towards redressing the balance by posting to this forum, but the trouble is it doesn’t attract harmonica enthusiasts much because of its title. Would it really hurt much to change its name to “Squeezeboxes and harmonicas in Irish Trad?” 
“Free Reeds” would be all-inclusive and accurate, but maybe less understood.
Maybe “Squeezeboxes and Free Reeds”? For all the harmonica, harmonium, melodica, sheng, and shruti box players out there, too. 
-Perhaps such a change could spur re-imaging in pop consciousness of harmonica as a bona fide musical instrument rather than an annoying toy. Tin whistle has succeeded pretty well in its image makeover. Many think of harmonica like Bob Newhart joking with Suzanne Pleshette, referring to a Harmonicats concert or recording in so many words as second-rate treat. Harmonica needs an image makeover, little but blues-style harmonica getting much respect.
I’d like harmonicas in the title somewhere! I seem to occasionally run across photos of unusual folks playing harmonicas and I never know where to post them.
Susan
Are you calling me unusual? 
I’ve called you many things, Steve, but don’t remember “unusual” being one of them…however, if the shoe fits…
Susan
what they said
about the forum, not about steve. You’re cool, steve 
…well
mayeb not usual
but you know
How about “Squeezeboxes and other Free-Reed Instruments”
There’s already a forum specifically for ITM, for those who only play that style, but every other instrument-specific forum here avoids tying it down to one genre.
As a D/G Melodeon player for Morris dancing, I don’t feel very welcome here either.
You guys settle on something and I’ll take care of it. Just PM me when you have a consensus.
“PROCTology” is taken.
I’d vote for that one.
Martin, the whole point about the Irish trad label was that, until this forum was created, there was no forum specifically for buttonboxes in Irish trad. There were and are the splendid concertina.net forums for concertinas, and the excellent forums at melodeon.net for D/G, Morris, etc.
Anyway, to my chagrin the forum has never really taken off the way the whistle, flute and pipes ones have. I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s nothing much to be said about accordions… so I certainly have no objection to its being renamed.
I’d suggest The Squeezebox and Harmonica forum. Let all the harmonium, American reed-organ, sheng and melodica players howl all they want.
And if you’re going to remove the Irish trad label, then the concertina players really ought to go where Dale wanted them to, to concertina.net. (Interestingly, the people who made the most fuss about including concertinas here have contributed sweet FA - you know who you are 
)
I second that, not because “Harmonica” gets a mention in the name but because “free reed” may not ring a bell with many people who might otherwise have taken a look.
I don’t know if my vote counts here but The Squeezebox and Harmonica forum sounds fine to me.
If Martin feels out of place here because he plays Morris music because it says ITM on the label I hope he doesn’t but then there just might not be that many other Morris people that hang out here. (sorry!)
I think if Steve wants this to be more friendly for irish harmonica players then post more harmonica stuff and invite your friends over to talk about it.
I personally like to hear (and am amaized) when I hear harmonica on Irish recordings. I would consider trying it myself but I already have alot of irons in the fire. There’s only so much one person can do in music given our lifespan and sparetime!
Best wishes,
Nate
Please reconsider. The combination of squeezeboxes (including gob-iron!) and the colorectal tract has real promise.
I just think that the forum as it is presently named would not really suggest itself to harmonica players. It sort of puts you off posting harmonica-related stuff in a way. Whether anyone thinks that harmonicas are exalted enough in ITM to deserve a mention in a forum name is another matter!
I totally agree. I would have never stopped in here if I didn’t get a concertina for Christmas. I’ve played the harmonica for a few years now. I’m self taught and my teacher never mentioned anything to me about free reeds. All he said was “blow” and “draw.”
Dale could just make a harmonica forum but you might be even lonelier until it takes off!
There use to be a uke forum but I can’t seem to find it now. I guess it never made it?
Anyways, don’t be shy! People use to post everything on the whistle forum until Dale or somebody expanded it out!
Progress!
-“Lu Sheng & the Derivatives”?
-Sounds like a rock band or finance jargon. “Paulo & the Sopraniettes”? Oh dear. Much worse. Hmm..
-I know..“Reed Pleasers”.
This will be popular with people named Reed, but nobody else perhaps.
-It still lacks something..
Why all the jokes?
This harmonica stuff is serious biz!
A reeded instrument that fits in your pocket. Play blues, country, Irish and anything else!
Lots of great harmonica playing with Patrick Street. I don’t know much about it but I think the instrument has got alot of soul!
Progress!
For me I like the name of the forum just the way it is.
“Squeezeboxes in Irish Trad”
If “harmonica” had been in the title, it would most likely not attracted me. I think of harmonicas as in the first type of music mentioned earlier-- “blues”. I know it plays other music.
But thats just me. I play mostly uilleann pipes and play the accordion for a change. Theres nothing like pulling the accordion out of the case and just play, something thats hard to do with the pipes.
What ever its named, as long as accordions are discussed, I’ll be following the forum.
My 2 cents… Ed