I do like large gatherings, but I don’t really do well meeting people and making friends in them. I find it too chaotic and difficult to “be myself” with so many people. I also feel there tends to be more shallow conversation in these settings making it great for banter and social energy but less great for connecting and getting to know new folks.
I am looking to meet new people to be friends, as in capital F friend, not just a random person I know. Someone who wants to hit me up and go do something fun, check in on me and see how I’m doing, etc.
How do you go about meeting people and finding social settings that foster deeper connections?
Find a hobby you like and find a group of people doing it together. I find those settings super easy to talk in since you know you have at least one thing in common and usually something to talk about. Like smaller concerts you can say I like the band on your shirt. I have met one of my best friends like that at a metal show.