I second the others advice. It's good. This is what I do: I just find a bar or dance club I like, then I keep going by myself, or with friends. Doesn't matter.

I second the others advice. It's good. This is what I do: I just find a bar or dance club I like, then I keep going by myself, or with friends. Doesn't matter. Make it a habit to get a drink, spend a little time there. Do whatever you want. Have fun. If you're by yourself, people will usually talk to you first. After a few times you go there, the regulars will know your face, you'll know them too, and conversation will flow quite easily. "Hey I've seen you before. What's your name?" That's all it takes. Another thing you can do, especially for travelers, is just pick up smoking. Marijuana, nicotine, doesn't matter. Go outside, find a spot where other people are smoking, ask if you can sit there. Say hi and ask everybodys name. If its lack of confidence, just remember that we all act like idiots all the time, no one is perfect, and everyone is drunk. People like to meet people. I have weirder ideas about this. I believe all conversation is telephatic. When we walk into a room, we sort of just know who is going to become a friend, who isn't, all that. If you feel someone is cool, just say hi. That person likely feels the exact same way even if they don't know why. When we walk into a bar, we sort of just know we are going to go back. That it's going to become our place.