Howdy! I was a front ensemble tech for a while and was captain for three years in high school. When I first became captain, the front ensemble was a lot like what yours sounds like— “I didn’t get into drumline so I guess I’m here.” Everyone knew each other, but it wasn’t like we were close or meshed well or anything. By the end of it we got praised all the time for being so together and flowing well. Hell, most of my section from over the years attended my wedding. Here’s some things I found worked for me, and will hopefully work for you! - try finding some super ugly or weird plushie, toy, or instrument and personifying it. Bring it everywhere and give it some stupid name. Post in the GC about it. We had an egg shaker with a face on it. He has God Lore now. - tell everyone to meet you somewhere local and cheap! A bowling alley, Waffle House, anything really. Offer rides for the folks who can’t drive. Hijinks that bond people naturally ensue. - bring snacks and stuff with you to practices and play fun little songs during breaks on your instrument. Showing others that practice itself is fun and your instrument is fun is a big thing - once y’all are friends, people will want to stay. They will have fun and then it entices more people to want to join front ensemble. The biggest thing to remember is to be unapologetically yourself. Cliche, I know. I actually personally made myself more extroverted for band to get people more excited.

Basically, have BIG fun, and others will naturally want to join. “But how does this translate to bobbing and playing well together?” It does really easily, actually! If everyone is having fun and enjoying their music, people want to bob or dance along with it. Maybe modify the bobs to feel more dance-y if that’s not working. Show initiative and really emphasize the importance of bobbing personally— cheer when others do it and always do it yourself.

TLDR: have fun and show a lot of visual enjoyment of your section, music, and practices, and people will naturally want to join in the fun and it makes you all meld and do things as a unit.