While I was finishing a diploma I took, I attended this Translation Conference that was held in a University. Many translators were there, I made a couple of acquaintances (and I'm pretty much social awkwardness embodied), and a week later I started my full-time professional translation career
Maybe my suggestion is a little stupid, but if you don't know anyone in the business, I'd say get some regular business cards (nothing too fancy), try to attend conferences, make small talk with a few people (don't say something like "I'm dying to work"), and at around 3/4 of the conversation slip them a card and say something like "here's my card, just in case I can be of help"), finish your conversation and move along. Also, if you give someone a card, try to not let them see you giving someone else a card, since that could make it too obvious that you went basically looking for work.
Best wishes
(and congratulations!
![bday :bday:](./images/smilies/icon_bday.gif)
)