School for Connections

I'm 28 and want to get into photography more seriously. It's always been a hobby, but I'd like to actually start making money off it. I have a friend who's a production designer at a TV studio here in Houston, and he recommended I take some classes at one of the community colleges we have here. Not necessarily to learn the art, but to meet people with similar passions and potentially get a foot in the door.

I wanted to ask actual photographers if this sounds like decent advice, since obviously, the film industry and professional photography are different.