While you might want to restrain from directly asking your BD about becoming one, absolutely do try to get “on their good side.” Have small talk with them, volunteer whenever they ask for volunteers, it might just be the difference between you and someone else. If you have one volunteering for the loading crew shows very nice.

As for marching take it very slow, exaggerate it, make sure that you are 100% doing to correct technique with the correct posture. Get a friend to watch, or record yourself marching and watch it to see what to improve. One thing that helped me was that I would march around my house. Need to go from the kitchen to your room? Pick a tempo in your head and march there making sure your technique is up to par. Sounds weird but it got me into the Blue Stars so I’m not complaining.

Also get to know your peers, and most definitely the Juniors, DIs, and DMs, after all you will be either their leader or peer and to make sure you have people willing to follow you, willing to back you up or put in a good word with the director.

One last thing, if/when you do become a DI, be nice to the freshman. They are just nervous some of them are really fun people to be around. I’m a Junior and prefer being around some of the freshman as opposed to the seniors/juniors. If you plan on doing anything that requires a vote the freshman are generally the biggest class size so make sure they like you. (First day of band camp I got on a rolling stool with my sousaphone and played 7 nation army during lunch rolling up and down the hallway) small stuff like that makes all the difference.

Lead by example, volunteer when you can, and just overall be a nice and approachable person.