I'm curious to hear what current IndieHackers can provide folks getting started (in terms of feedback, advice, or just what to expect).

I'll share my experience. I've done this a number of times and follow the same general script. I'll use a made up example, an app that matches bakers to restaurants that want to outsource their bread.

• I start with a post on my personal social media, and by reaching out to my friends and family network. The ask is something like, "I'm looking to talk to a Baker to learn a little more about what they do and how they work. Does anybody have a connect I could chat with?"
• I usually end up with at least 5 people to chat with. I schedule 30 minute in-person calls, or video chats if they're not local.
• I ask them a bunch of questions about their job, focused specifically on challenges they encounter and unmet expectations.
• I'm listening for something along the lines, "It never feels like I have enough sustainable, predictable sales."
• If the interviewee doesn't bring it up, I may ask a question like, "Can you describe how you plan how much bread to make each day/week?" I'm looking to get them to acknowledge if they have pains here, not lead them to validate my original idea.
• If the interviewee says something like that, I ask them to explain more. Then, I mention that I'm working on something to help solve that problem, and ask if they'd be willing to chat again in a few weeks so I can get their feedback on the project.
• 2 weeks later, I have a better idea of what I'm building, I show it to them and ask them to walk through the clickable prototype. I give them a specific job to do and ask for their feedback.
• If it goes well, I ask them if they'd like to sign up for a hefty discount that'll remain active as long as they stay a customer. I also ask if there are any other people they know that might interested in something like this, and if they wouldn't mind making an introduction.
• If it doesn't go well, I ask a bunch more probing questions to understand why.

Each side project I've ever done has followed this approach, and each time, it resulted in the first handful of users.

It's about solving THEIR problems, not pushing YOUR product.