Ask HN: How to find first good client?

I can generally [figure out how to] do anything related to web development and design compelling web interfaces. I can convince people of this and figure out how they can derive value from it. I've been taking jobs off oDesk and would love better clients for obvious reasons. I've read the stuff by 'patio11 and 'tptacek about finding better clients and charging more and like the idea. Where do I find my first such client?

How does this work on a transactional level? Where are these fabled clients? How do I get in contact with them? What's step 1 of the social protocol through which I broadcast "you have problems, I can solve them and you should possibly pay me to do so?"

I hear most consultants find their first clients from previous connections, but I'm a 19yo college dropout who's freelanced his whole short career.