I've started becoming a frequent customer at a local Free-Play Arcade with lots of rhythm games. Dance Dance Revolution (In The Groove), beatmania IIDX, Pop'n Music, Wacca, StepManiaX, CHUNITHM, maimai, and more. Every second Friday of the month the rhythm game community in Tennessee meets up at the arcade and we all talk about playing games and then we play the games and then we rant to each other about scores we got.
At first I was very shy at these meetups, didn't really talk to anyone, didn't want to play the dance games because too many people, I didn't stay for the group photo, etc. But once I kept going and recognizing faces and talking to more people (we all have this one interest in common, pretty easy to make conversation) I felt more and more included into this little group. Go to your local meetups with that niche hobby you have! Stay for that group photo! Go out to dinner with them! Include yourself!!
(I did not ask anyone if I could share this photo, so everyone is blurred out, except for yours truly)
May 18, 2025
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ive been single for 5 years so when i moved, going out alone wasn’t really a new concept it was just the unfamiliar environment that was intimidating. so i just had to get over my fear of the literal unknown.
either way, concerts are the easiest place for me to make new connections cus i like to dance and i mean there’s already a solid topic of conversation to lead with (the artist you r there to see 🌚)
dive bars r easy too, i just have a drink at the bar, talk to whoever’s there, and go wherever the wind takes me.
i also just straight up asked my coworkers if anyone wanted to be friends and /or hangout. sometimes (in seattle at least) u just have to be straightforward
my old roommate liked going to queer nights and that’s how she met a few of her friends
my current roommate is into gaming so he goes to gaming meets & card game battles
and i have another friend who loves skating so she goes to skating events
i guess, meet new people thru ur hobbies 🧘🏽♀️
BUT ALSO
don’t be afraid to ask :)
May 16, 2024
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i started going to diy hardcore and punk shows every weekend because I wasn't leaving the house and was so so so lonely. everyone is super friendly, though i find myself feeling alone at times. but, it's nice to be surrounded by people. being thrown around the mosh pit and flung into wild dances makes me feel like I'm apart of the inner working of some great beast. i see many of the same people every week, and we usually chat together and sometimes smoke reefer or get in the pit at the same time. it's quite comforting, as somepne who has many acquaintances yet little friends. music is something that anyone can get involved in, lots of people you wouldn't expect to be in a room together just dancing the night away.
Mar 13, 2025
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A lot of people will usually recommend signing up for courses or joining clubs to make new friends as an adult. This is definitely good advice, since it puts you in contact with people who share your interests! However, I've found that a lot of these courses or clubs cost money, or they require a schedule that's difficult to fit into an adult life. I've had the most luck making friends at local music shows so far. This way, you're around people that still share at least one of your interests (music taste), and you'll usually have more in common from there. After leaving the "bubble" of my university, I felt very isolated at first. After a few months of going to shows on my own here and there, I started to recognize some familiar faces in the scene & made new connections with a few people. I'd recommend picking a couple bands to keep up with, or following a few local booking companies on social media. If you don't vibe with the crowd at the ones you chose, you can always switch lanes and try different venues! Different groups/venues usually attract different age ranges as well, so if you notice people are too far out of your range at your show, just keep trying other options. I've realized that there's actually multiple scenes inside my local scene, which may be the case for a lot of midsize-to-bigger cities/areas. If you find venues, bands, or booking groups that support certain causes you care about, then most people in the crowd will also share your values, not just your interests! Typically the shows are very cheap, and they're irregular instead of attending a recurring class, so you can decide when you feel like socializing. Even if you don't meet people you connect with, it's nice to feel like a part of a bigger community & get out of the house sometimes. Going out frequently can be draining to some people, so once you meet some people from the shows, you can start inviting them to other activities or hangouts that might be more lowkey & easier to manage!
Aug 20, 2024
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everything you said, yeah you said that yesterday..
May 18, 2025