https://lemmy.world/c/opensignups

once you are in just escalate to others through invites forums.

I know reddit is the devil, but they actually have an active subreddit whereas lemmy's is pretty much dead. Check /r/opensignups

Keep an eye out for open trackers

https://opentrackers.org/

!opensignups@lemmy.ml

!opensignups@lemmy.world

!opensignups@noworriesto.day

Or keep an eye on the invite giveaway thread in !trackers@lemmy.dbzer0.com

Or interview for the big music trackers and work your way up the ranks to participate in their internal tracker recruitment threads e.g. https://interviewfor.red and https://interview.orpheus.network

PS - Trackers like TL tend to do open signups a few times a year so it's not really that difficult to get going once you catch an open signup.

Do I just constantly refresh pages and hope there will be open sign ups one day?

That or you know someone who has an invite. There's places where you can buy invites, but many private trackers will ban you for doing so. I've heard that there's ways to get into very desirable trackers by seeding your way through a few different trackers, but I'm not sure of the specifics, I'm sure someone else can elaborate on that.

Some have an interview process in place (notably redacted). Once you get in a first one (either through interview, open signup or any other way) you can start climbing the ranks, at some point you should have access to an invite section on the tracker forum where you can find invites to other trackers (not all trackers have an invite forum and they don't have access to the same invites).

Darkest ally in your neighbor hood at 12:03

Drug dealers.

That, or you can request an invite (given the community allows for it).

You have to know a guy, usually.