Agent Monkey, there are several ways to do it. But please keep in mind, that the advice below already assumes that you can set correct exposure and focus and are essentially trying tp push the limits of style or technicality. As mentioned earlier, if exposure and sharpness is still a worry during a shoot, it's really really not the time to go pro yet. If you insist on shooting anyway, at least learn to bracket exposure and focus.
1. Go out and experiment on your own time and dime. That's what my friends and I used to do while we were in college and I think this system, with a mentor to critique your work after, is probably the best way to get started because it allows you to develop a style of your own, which is really important in marketing yourself. It also shows potential employers that you are a very keen photographer who takes the initiative to develop yourself.
2. Take on easier shoots. Pull it off, and in between takes experiment. This way you can deliver what the client wants and develop your style. If your experiment works, give it to your client instead, that's when you wow them. In a few years, you'll be able to command the shoot and only do it in your style.
3. Assist for someone else, show determination and excellence in the small things and eventually they'll let you take on the whole shoot by yourself. But honestly, based on your question below, there's really nothing stopping you from just turing up at an event and shooting if that's what you are interested in.
Hope this helps
thanks for your feedback! how then does one gain exposure in order to improve? would starting off as a photographer's assistant help? like when he's covering an event, you go there and shoot as well? not sure how this sounds but that way all the good shots are taken by him and you get the chance to experiment and see how it turns out