get a comfortable drink for yourself before going in

politely greet everyone

ask people why they join this activity

arriving early so you can talk with someone first. If you arrive late, people may have already formed groups and you'll feel more awkward

message the event organiser so he/she can let you know what you'll be expecting

chat with the event organiser as a start

there will be weird people, but don't let them scare you. Those are the minorities only

no political or religious commentary please

don’t rush to get someone else’s contact number 

try some conversation starters to get a basic understanding of someone:

“Hi there, how is your day going?”

"Is this your first time here (in this meet-up)?”

"How long have you been in this city?”

"Do you study or work?” —> “What do you do for work?" / “What are you studying?”

"What kind of stuff do you do in your spare time?”