How much does a mariachi song cost in Plaza Garibaldi?

A night in Plaza Garibaldi

what

Hundreds of musicians wait for customers and are paid by the song; one song costs about the same as a simple dinner. Many people hire a whole band for a wedding or a birthday.

when

Afternoons and nights. The work is not easy: they play standing for many hours.

where

Plaza Garibaldi, in the centre of Mexico City.

who

Many mariachis start playing as children with their family; UNESCO describes the skill passed from fathers to sons and learned by ear.

why

For them, music matters more than tiredness.

• In Plaza Garibaldi hundreds of musicians wait for customers in the afternoon and at night, and customers pay per song; a song costs roughly what a simple dinner does.
• Players learn by ear, and the skill is usually handed down from fathers to sons, mainly through performance.

Por la tarde y por la noche, cientos de músicos esperan allí a sus clientes.

In the afternoon and at night, hundreds of musicians wait there for their customers.

Los clientes pagan por cada canción.

The customers pay for each song.

El trabajo no es fácil: tocan de pie durante muchas horas.

The work isn't easy: they play standing up for many hours.