[wenc]

They're not even a funnel. Meetups aren't the right channel for #2 and #3 -- they almost never happen based on (even pre-COVID) experience with Meetups (I went to 2-3 meetups a week for over 3 years, and despite being outgoing, I never made a single friend).

I had better luck with #1 + #2 taking classes at Second City than I ever had at Meetups. Classes give you repeated exposure to the same people every week. Repeated exposure gives people predictability, which helps them relax their defenses.

#3 is more difficult -- you have to take the extra step of inviting people out to do stuff together. People are more comfortable opening up in smaller settings.