How do I start a band?
 

Does Craigslist work or is it just rapists and meth heads?

I'm not sure what a "met head" is but I've started two bands through craigslist and it worked out okay.

I met both of my bands through college. One thing that could work out is attending gigs and making friends there.

What should I write in the ad?

"Courtney Love hiring musicians"?

"Looking for forklift operator"

I hate you all.
Phone number? Email address? Facebook account?

Don't include your phone number. Just use Craigslist's option to display your email address as an "@craigslist.org" address. People's emails will come to your inbox but they won't have your personal email address until you reply to them.

Alright, thank you.

I met all my friends on Craigslist!

Just check out this prospective advert:
Can't get any more legit than that, eh?

just do everything yourself

i sing, play guitars, keyboards and program the drum machines

my ego can't fit a band

Your ego has nothing to do with not being able to keep time with others.

nah, I'm a tyrant in the studio and demand everybody plays this or that

most people can't put up with that

You're like the Southeast Asian version of Billy Corgan.

Or Axl Rose...

But that would be too harsh on Duce.

more like John Fogerty

and end up playing everything myself

Make sure you don't end up like those one man metal bands where there's one guy playing everything on MIDI keyboards.
Mind you, I don't think I'd mind being in your band. It's clearly going to do reasonably well, so I think I could put up with being ordered around a bit.

You are thinking this through too much. Just post an ad on craigslist stating that you are looking to form a band, stating which type of instrument players or vocalists you are looking for. Write down your email, and if you feel you can trust the replier you can then forward them your phone number or meet them somewhere in public. Perhaps attending local band shows would be great as well along with what others have mentioned such as posting at colleges and universities.

i hate digital

i'd end up playing to a tape or something

i'm an all-analog man

I don't have an ego. I have a vagina.

Aww, you beat me to it. :(

And I have a guitar and a great haircut. Which of us should start a band?

i have several guitars and a keyboard

and am borrowing a drum machine and a porta-studio

Am I hired yet, or what?

i can send you some demos for you to noodle over, if you like

i'm not going back to Britain anytime soon

Who cares? I'd head over to Malaysia at the drop of a hat - anything to miss college for a a while.
And anyway: it's your band.

sure, look forward to seeing you

I need a good tan! Any decent beaches?

lots

it's the monsoon season now, though, so not a good time, try next February

also bring a lot of suntan lotion - the sun is quite "glaring" here - you'd end up looking like a cooked lobster if you don't

February 14th is my birthday! It's in the holidays too.

For some reason, ginger people seem more susceptible to sunburn.

i only had sunburn twice in my life

Yeah, but have hardly any melanin in my skin. Sucks to be me.

Pick a common style, learn to play it well. If you play an odd style, search bands in the area that already do, and try to join one.

If you don't already have band mates, it's better to join a band rather than starting your own.

Here is my view on how to start a band is this

1) Have great guitarists
2) Find awesome vocalists
3) Dope drummers
4) Good percussions
5) Have 4 guitars

Guitars
Solo
Mi-Solo
Rhythm
Bass

6 Singers.

That would be a great band.

I'm going to college in 10 days. I still really want to do this.
Anything anybody can tell me before I read through the thread again? I think I could probably find some people on campus. I got an email to audition for campus choir....not really my kind of music but do y'all think it would help?

find ppl who can play instruments. start with someone who can playa coustic guitar


get drunk, take drugs, jam, cypher


start playin in front of ppl at get together and parties when everyone is trashed at 330 am

build confidence slowly

play in front of ppl sober

play at college functions and events at the student center

become locally famous

get signed, sell soul, change style completely, abandon fans, get new fans, make money

I'm kinda at a loss for you because almost all of my close friends are musicians and we jam all the time... if I wanted to start a(nother) band it could happen at the drop of a hat.

Auditioning with the choir would be a great way to get together with other musicians. Remember, even though you would be singing choral music, there's a good chance that other members of the group are into various genres of music and be willing to play... or at the very least, get you in contact with some "friends of friends," or end up in their circle, which may have other musicians in it. I say go for it. Plus, it would give you some more traditional practice for your voice, which can't hurt.