I’m socially awkward.

I don’t mean that in the fun, charming way. I mean that I am an introvert who gets anxious about not only being in groups of people, but especially when I have to interact with a lot of new strangers. The SXSW Community Meet Up hosted by Easy Tiger was not an event I was looking forward to, but I was wrong.

Thankfully, my trepidation was stymied by Jon Zmikly, a senior lecturer at Texas State and frequent attendee of SXSW. He drew upon his seven years of attending the conference to proffer some sage advice.

“They’re your people,” Zmikly said. “Like minded people come together … and you never know what they might be looking for.”

Of course, Zmikly was right. This wasn’t an event of high-powered businessmen looking to make the next contact that will make them a billionaire, this was SXSWi folks. They were down to Earth, tech people just like me.

Sure, there were high-powered people there. Bob Metcalfe, co-inventor of Ethernet, was there, but he was completely approachable, friendly and full of good advice.

The same was true of the SXSWi Director Hugh Forrest, who was equally approachable and ready to share advice on how to survive SXSWi.

Corey Birkmann, the Interactive Director of Rebel Interactive, attended the meet up and had some tips for networking.

“My advice is to just get out there and not be afraid to introduce yourself,” Birkmann said. “Events like these meetups are meant to be scenarios where not everyone knows each other and most everyone is receptive of meeting new people and learning about what they do.”

SXSWi is a safe place for introverts to come out of their shells. The conference attendees are all there for the same reasons, and you never know what friendships might form with your fellow conference goers.

“For a lot of people it means stepping out of your comfort zone and making blind introductions,” Birkmann said. “You never know where that relationship could end up.”