How to Meet Interesting People

Last Updated: June 22, 2021

Many individuals find it difficult to meet people, and especially challenging to meet people that share their interests. Whether you are shy or outgoing, the process of finding and recognizing those who truly stimulate your interest can be exhausting. With some practice, you can learn how find people who share your passions and engage them so that they show you just how interesting they are.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Being Available

1
Smile. Whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, make sure to signal that you are engaged and that you are open to interacting with people. This will make it easier for others to approach you and they will be more likely to share their most interesting characteristics and ideas with you when they are at ease.
- You don't need to fake it. Fake smiles do not have the same effect as genuine smiles.^{[1]
  X
  Research source} You do not need to smile constantly, but you should be aware of what you're expressions and demeanor convey. If you enjoy your company or the situation that you are in, make a point to show it with a smile.
2
Help people. If an acquaintance needs help moving, volunteer to help. If a co-worker has to catch a flight, offer to drive them to the airport. Appreciative people will feel more open and are more likely to share their interests with you. They may also get curious about your passions.

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3
Interact with people. Make choices that put you in contact with people that you do not already know well. The more you interact with people, the easier it will be to find friends with shared interests. You will not find everyone interesting, but you may be surprised by who shares your hobbies and passions.
- Avoid over-sharing and complaining. It takes time for people to know and trust each other. If you share intimate stories or personal problems with strangers, they will feel overwhelmed. Try to start with something simple, like a joke about your surroundings or a polite introduction. For instance, if you are in an elevator with someone, ask "don't you just hate elevator music?" If they are interested, they will respond with a joke or comment. If they don't respond, respect their space and leave them alone.
- Check your current friendships to make sure that they are not hindering your efforts to meet new people. ^{[2]
  X
  Research source} You may find that adjusting the time you spend with current friends can open opportunities to meet new people.
4
Show interest in others' passions. Recognize that people can be interesting in unexpected ways. Consider what interests you and what characteristics make a person interesting to you. If you know what type of person you want to meet, you can recognize them more easily. Additionally, you will be able to notice compelling characteristics in people who do not fit that image.
- Don't expect everyone to have the same interests as you. Try to appreciate others' hobbies even if you do not share them. Cooking may not excite you, but you can still respect the passion that an acquaintance has for cuisine.
- Ask questions. When you find a person with similar interests, make a point to keep them talking. Express your ideas, but don't dominate the conversation. Use questions that encourage the person to share more: Why do you say that? Did something specific influence your thinking about this? What is the best aspect of this? What challenges did you face in accomplishing that? You are more likely to meet interesting people if you let them share their interests with you.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Picking Social Places

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Try a new bar or club. These establishments provide a social environment where people can meet and have fun. You may find other people at a bar with a similar hope of meeting interesting people, or a group of established friends that may be happy to include you in their conversation. It is normal to interact briefly with people that you don't know, but don't push yourself into a conversation unless an invitation was extended.
- Do some quick research. If you are nervous about picking a bar that you do not know, check their website or some reviews to see if seems like what you want. If you hate talking about sports, you may want to avoid a bar that proudly advertises that its TVs play every game.
- Heading to a bar by yourself can be a great way to get a date.^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Christina Jay, NLP
  Matchmaker & Certified Life Coach
  Expert Interview. 11 February 2020.} However, some people go to bars or clubs with the specific intention of finding a partner for casual sex. Know what you want out of meeting interesting people, and be aware that others may want something else.
2
Work or read at cafés. People often chose cafés for a sociable environment to work and read. Look for a café that has large “community” tables so that you can sit with fellow customers. A patron reading a book that you have read may have interesting thoughts that they would like to share with you.
- Ask questions that will allow you to explore mutual interests: Have you read that author's other works? How did you become familiar with that topic? Why do you think that this book is so popular?
- If a fellow patron is working, respect their privacy. A person wearing headphones does not want to talk to you, and someone who gives only minimal responses to your questions is politely signaling that they are too busy to talk.
3
Go to concerts and art events. Show up a little early, or prepare to stay once the show ends. While a performance does not provide many chances to talk to other audience members, there is a good chance that people you meet at such an event will share some of your other interests as well. You may make interesting connections through casual conversation before or after the show.
- You can start with questions about the performer or exhibit: Have you seen this band perform before? What do you think of the performer's most recent album? How did you learn of this artist's work?
4
Travel. Your chances of meeting new types of people dramatically increase if you visit a new city or country.
- Check travel guides for the area you are visiting. A good guide book or website may list social activities for tourists.
- Stay in a hostel with a lobby. There will be plenty of visitors with diverse backgrounds to talk to in the evening.
- Stay with a local. You can use couchsurfing.com or AirBnB.com to find a host in the city you are visiting.
- Use your network. Search for friends of your Facebook connections to see if you have possible connections in the area that you are visiting. Ask your connection if they could introduce you to their friends.
- Introduce yourself to other travelers. If you are at a popular tourism site, it is likely that some people around you are also traveling alone. Ask them where they are from or why they made the trip to this destination; you make meet an interesting person.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cultivating Hobbies

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Take a class. Look through local continuing education programs' offerings and pick a topic or a skill that interests you. You can be confident that other students will share this interest with you.
- Language classes can put you in contact with people from various backgrounds. Talking to fellow students could introduce you to interesting people that you may not have realized were around you.
- Be aware of the interests that are popular in your area. If you enjoy line dancing, but moved to a city where country music is less popular, consider a swing dancing class.
- Some hobbies are more social than others. If your goal is to meet people, invest your efforts into activities that involve cooperation and conversation.
2
Join a recreational sports league. If you enjoy being active or competitive, a local recreational team will put you in contact with like-minded people. Joining a bowling league will put you in contact with other enthusiastic bowlers. Likewise, a hiking club will connect you to hikers with interesting stories.
3
Find a book club. If you are looking for intellectual stimulation, look for a local group that meets periodically to discuss a selected book. Check the offerings of your local library, book store events, or look through the options listed on Meetup.com.
4
Volunteer. Meet people that share your passion for an organization or cause while you make a difference in your community. VolunteerMatch.org is a good place to start exploring volunteer options in your area.
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Challenge yourself. You may want to meet interesting people who share your interests, but you may also find a group of people that will help you stretch your interests. It will be easier to meet interesting people if you expand what interests you. Now is a good time to learn new cooking skills, try a new sport, or read a type of literature that you have not yet explored.