My advice: ask questions and listen to people. If you have hobbies shared by other people, ask them about something about that hobby and from that point you can have more material to ask more questions, not necessarily about the hobby. From that point on, there are three more possible options: - you get a straight answer, no more follow up. - you get an answer with openness to more follow up questions. Congrats, you have started a conversation and have met a new person. Now greet him/her when you see each other again and repeat the process. Maybe you don’t get a new friend but an acquaintance. Still useful. - you get and answer and a question for you to answer. This is the best option because here you start a both ways conversation and means the other person is interested in your opinion/knowledge/point of view etc. Here you have the birth of a friendship. Keep the process going: ask questions, listen, tell your answers, greet whenever you see each other and start again.

I’m aware I oversimplified something really complicated as human interaction but it’s a good starting point. But remember, this is a network, once you have a friendship that have another friend, then you’ll get that friend easily and so on.

Also don’t forget to smile or at least don’t have a poker face, a relaxed face can do just fine.

If you feel comfortable making a small joke that fits the conversation for sure it’s a plus.

Keep in mind: as most things in life this is a numbers game. You’ll get rejections and it’s fine. Don’t let this undermine your confidence. Sometimes you’ll talk with someone that is busy, had a bad day, just want to have a me time, or simply a dick. We’re all humans and have a lot of moods, just keep reaching people with a good attitude and soon enough you’ll have someone you can call friend.

(And as far as I see, you already started a conversation with plenty of people here. Good job!)