As a guy in my early 30s, I've recently began enjoying going on nights out more and more, however I don't have many friends who are interested in this. I do have (fairly new) friend who enjoys going out even more than I do, and he recently invited me out to an event that his close group of friends were going to. I went and had an absolutely amazing time, getting on really well with my friend's friend (who was organising) and his other friends, and I know they really liked me!

Since then, that group has been out to many other events and as someone who has been struggling for years to make a group of friends, seeing their instragram stories has been filling me with a lot of sadness and fomo. I know that my friend only became friends with others in that group due to a single mutual friend and I was hoping to be able to replicate that and be invited out to more events (and hopefully just become a regular in that group). Unfortunately I have no idea how to do this without coming across as needy and desperate - i've thought about messaging them individually to see how they're doing etc, and also to see if they have any plans coming up - I've also thought about sending them events I am interested in but worried that if they aren't I won't know how to steer the conversation into being invited by them to something they are interested in.

Can anyone provide guidance on how to message/interact in these situations with the aim of actually creating a good friendship with these people? I'm all for challenging my social anxiety but I'm afraid I literally don't know how to go getting in touch with these people and trying to make a friendship!