Try the community and arts section in the Chronicle: look for events related to what you're interested in. You'll have a higher chance of striking up a conversation with someone with similar interests.

Try taking a class for something you're interested in.

How does one meet new people?

Oddly this came up twice this weekend in my circle of friends.

My answer to both was "persistence"

So you went out a struck up a conversation a few times and based on a bar side chat it didn't work out? Keep at it! Talk to everyone; I have made acquaintances and from there formed real friendships by meeting people everywhere there are people. I would say that the ratio of people I speak with Vs. the ones that become friends with is well below 1%

Talk to people it's really the only way. I am a horridly shy person, but that is something I wanted to change about myself and I took the "fake it till you make it" approach, I am still a shy person, but now I am they shy person that says "hi" to the person behind me in line at the grocery store for no reason other than to be friendly.

Here's a quick project for you. You say you are new to town and like the bar/music scene here. Go out and learn your bartenders names, ask them who their cool regulars are. Then next time call them by their names and see how well that works towards getting over your shyness.

What are your interests and hobbies?

www.meetup.com there are over 200 meetups a week of anything and everything you can possibly imagine. Just look up Austin and your interests, and you will find people meeting up every week to do anything.

Well tell us about yourself. I would offer friendship but what if you are a Republican reprobate or a tomato killer?

i wasn't really looking for LJ friends. I actually gave up posting entries a few months ago. The only reason I continue to have my account is to read the austin community or get updates from my friends that still use their journals.

Try contra dancing! Everyone is friendly, and it's great exercise too. http://www.austincontradance.org

Eww! I've danced in Portland a couple of times and didn't notice that. I wouldn't say it's a problem in Austin. I'm married, but my single friends who contra dance haven't indicated that they feel uncomfortable at all. I know a few couples who've met through contra dancing, though. I think our dancers are generally respectful of boundaries and know to leave the flirting on the dance floor but not try to take it further. If it'd make you more comfortable, let me know some time when you're going and I'll look out for ya. We have a fabulous, free upcoming Dance in the Park at the Zilker Hillside Theater (donations to band appreciated) on Sun. 3/30.

I can't think of any skeezy local dancers -- well, maybe one, but he's nearing 70 so we cut him a little slack. Just remember it's okay to turn anyone down if you feel skeeved out. :) There's been an influx of college-aged dancers in the past few months, so it feels a little more like Portland to me... the Houston/Dallas dance communities have an older demographic, which is okay, just different energy.

Become a regular someplace!

Its funny... just this weekend a friend and I were talking about an "add_me_austin" type group because we've all asked that question at some point...

I've always liked coffeeshops for low-effort socializing. There are scads of them all over town, and they seem to attract somewhat different crowds and have their own "feel". Find one that seems to attract people who look interesting to you and become a regular. See what happens.

Epoch is 24/7 if you're looking up north, and has a pretty friendly and varied crowd; and Spiderhouse (open very late), which can be a bit hipster-ish but also attracts plenty of other folks of you are not hipster-ish yourself.

welcome to austin!

This does not sound silly or desperate! If you scroll down this page some I posted almost the exact same post a few days ago. So I added you check out my page and my interests and we will go from there. I work very odd hours as well, I am in the hotel industry and my schedule is forever changing, and it makes it hard. I was also not "allowed" to make friends at the last hotel I was at b/c I was a manager and managers cannot hang out with associates. Consider yourself adopted. LOL

Oh and by the way, I noticed somebody mentioned meetup.com, I have joined that and it is fun and somewhat successful. I will warn, stay positive with meetup.com, it is sometimes hard with an odd schedule.

Hey, welcome to the clique...ooops I mean music capital or the world.

I've met most of my Austin friends at club events. Charlies, OCH, ELysium, etc.

Glad you posted this. I am new (somewhat) too, but don't get out and about much to meet people. Now I know!