Going out

Later today, I'm off to what might be called a mass blind date. There's a social meetup group in Basingstoke, which I just joined, and they've got a meetup this evening.
I thought that I might give it a try and signed up a few days ago.
It's now the day of the meetup, and I have to say that I am more than slightly scared about what I am going to be doing.
We're meeting in a restaurant in Basingstoke, and there will be 14 other people there, abouts two thirds of whom will be female. While this is not a major factor, I cannot say that it doesn't affect the way I am thinking about the event.

Socialising

How does anyone manage to like this socialising stuff? I'm trying to do it, and I'm flipping terrified. I feel like chickening out of doing this, though I'm going to try my best not to and to make this a successful event.