I think it's only as difficult as you make it to 'break into a group'. I do know it can be quite daunting going to your first meet, we've all had to do it at some point. I gave a monk some severe verbal abuse at my very first show, that was pretty much the first 'live' version of richb that people saw!! But that's another story. Really, it's up to you how you play it but we are all there for the same reason, to have fun, there aren't any barriers unless you make them, even then, Alcohol is a great tool to break them down!