Join a local art collective or makerspace/hackerspace. Be open to not crying on the internet because you got hurt or someone said mean things, that comes with the package.
Eventually you may start connecting with people who know things
Good lord, HN nerds are just as bad as the Instagrammers they detest. Nobody is going to makerspaces and losing fingers and whining on social media.
You may want to re-read the thread.
Re-read the GP's statement. The parties are not at makerspaces. You just would expect to meet people at makerspaces who know where the local "weird parties" are, because they're the people making the shoddy contraptions for these parties.