Venturing out is good. The key is intelligent risk-taking. (That's true of life, as well.)

Online, look at the list of people who have read this thread. It's just below the editing window. They're here and they're interested enough to read your intro. Take that as a sign that it would be okay to visit their homepages, post a visitor message, or send a private message. Eventually, they might agree to meet you in chat. I would approach Dom/mes and subs differently, but I would approach both.

IRL, use Google to search the phrase "bdsm munch near me." Those are informal, low commitment social gatherings that welcome new members to the BD community.

For what that's worth,

Solis