if you are just starting crafting then you can only join the wholesaler societies. In Freeport they are in the starting districts. talk to the person standing next to the cellar doors. Once you reach level 9 or 10 I believe (once you can pick a artisan class; sage etc.) then you are able to join the specific societies.
also as far as I know you are allowed to belong to one society and one wholesaller simultaneously, but not 2 distince societies.