wow! This conversation is flying all over the place but I'm definitely feeling the passion, the humour, and the insight that you all have.
I've already begun buying the appropriate gear. I've already done my research on that.
So getting back to actually getting that first gig. Basically, the only thing I've seen so far in this discussion is to go to the rental houses in NYC such as Gotham and Pro Sound. I've already begun to do this. I could be wrong, but so far I don't think it's the best place to go to network. When I go there, it's to give my money to them in exchange for gear.
Where else can I go? How do I find the producers that book sound recordists?