If you want to make friends sit at any bar in Fort Lauderdale people will approach you and the bartenders will talk to you

So I've made many posts here asking people for places to try and make friends. And 90% of the responses are something along the lines of "sit at any bar in Fort Lauderdale people will approach you and the bartenders job is literally to talk to you."

I reply to those comments and I say that hasn't been my experience, then I get down voted to hell. They tell me I'll never make friends with that attitude. Some people went as far as saying it'd be impossible to do that and NOT make friends.

So last Saturday night I went to downtown Hollywood by myself. Keep in mind I'll admit I can be a little bit shy. But im still friendly and willing to initiate conversation.

First I sat down at Twisted Roots Kava Bar. The bartenders were all talking to people who were sitting in groups. I sat down between the two groups and the bartender came over to me asked if I wanted something. I didn't. But I ordered a kava drink hoping maybe they'd at least be a little open to conversation if I did. Nothing. And no I didn't try to start much a conversation besides from asking them how their nights going. No response. But so many people told me oh its their job to talk to you and be friendly sit at any bar and any bartender will gladly become your friend.

Whatever I know if I let that stop me then everyone is just gonna say its my fault for not trying another bar. Went over to another bar in Downtown Hollywood. Couldn't even get the dam bartenders to look at me to order a drink. They just kept going back and forth between other people who of course were in groups. And it's not like they're getting them drinks, just hanging out talking. Bartenders will talk to you, but not if you are alone.

Tried one more spot. Fuck it I can't quit now. So I go over to a third bar. I sat down and finally I was able to get a drink without being looked at like I'm doing something wrong. Got my drink bartender walked away immediately and I noticed he gave himself a tip off of my card after even though I tipped cash.

Any advice on what went wrong? Dozens of people in the comments have been telling me "sit down at any bar any of the bartenders will jump at the chance to be your friend it's literally their job to talk to you." I also keep getting told "dude sit down alone at any bar and people will approach you to be friends!" I'm not super extroverted but I am friendly and polite. And I'm not saying I acted perfectly and I'm entitled to friends because I went out in public to socialize. I'm just saying when people tell me it's so easy just sit down at a bar people will talk to you, and nobody even looks my way because nobody is sitting at the bar alone, and I get told sit down at a bar the bartenders will automatically try to make you their friend so you become a regular, and I can't even order a drink because they think a lonely person is a waste of time, ITS NOT THAT EASY!