Mariachi Internacional Varas Nayarit arrive at the location of their gig. | Photo: Matt Stromberg
For decades, Boyle Height's Mariachi Plaza has been the center of L.A.'s mariachi community, where, every weekend, throngs of musicians gather to socialize, swap stories, and most importantly, find work. Dressed in their crisp, black cowboy-style charro suits, the mariachis wait for customers to drive up, and they'll negotiate a price and the number of hours they'll play, before heading off to perform for a birthday, baptism, wedding, or quincea era. Once the gig is over, they may return to the plaza to repeat the process.
I had heard various anecdotes about the itinerant life of the street mariachi, which differs from that of stage mariachis, who generally perform regularly at restaurants or musical venues. Since chamba ( gig ) groups were often paid in cash, musicians were sometimes targeted, having to remain vigilant as they walked swiftly to their cars after they finished playing. One mariachi told me of a customer who he suspected of being a narco, picking him up in a luxury SUV, giving each member of his band a charro suit with a specific color to wear. You never know where you're going or whom you're going to be playing for, or even with, as bands are sometimes assembled on the spot. Drawn to these compelling tales, I convinced a mariachi group, Mariachi Internacional Varas Nayarit, to let me tag along for their Saturday shows.
Although many mariachis will assemble at the plaza to get gigs, it is just as common for a bandleader - often referred to as a caim n - to arrange bookings in advance.
View from the kiosk at Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights. | Photo: throgers/Flickr/Creative Commons
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Caim n is a derogatory way of saying they take advantage of the money, says Luis Molina, a mariachi and filmmaker who used to lead his own group. But they take responsibility for the contract, the gasoline, the advertisements. Sometimes I made less than my musicians. Sometimes they will have a full band already, other times, they will need to pick up a few musicians at the plaza. Even if they don't need additional mariachis, bands often meet at the plaza so they can carpool and save money on gas and parking. This also prevents gigs from being stolen, as the caim n doesn't always share an address in advance, though one mariachi I spoke with said anyone who attempted to take a gig for oneself would quickly get blacklisted.
I had arranged to meet Cuco Pe a - also known as Varas, the Mexican city where he hails from - and his band at the plaza at 4 p.m. This included his son Luis on trumpet, another trumpeter named Alberto, and David Kilpatrick, a tall, white-haired ethnomusicologist who began playing mariachi music in 1964, on the bass-like guitarr n. Unfortunately, the violin player was a no-show. It was already late in the day and the few mariachis milling about the plaza already had gigs. That was going to be a problem since the customer would be expecting five musicians. Kilpatrick left a frantic message for his partner Andrea Martinez to see if she could fill in on guitar. We waited for a few minutes for any latecomers and then headed out for their first scheduled party in Baldwin Park, 20 miles to the east.
Mariachi Internacional Varas Nayarit arrive at the location of their gig. | Photo: Matt Stromberg
Once we arrived on the bucolic, tree-lined street, the group poured out of the van, tuned their instruments and adjusted their deep scarlet mo os, the classic mariachi bow-tie, each embroidered with the band's name, except for Pe a's which bore his own. The party's host welcomed us, and led us to the backyard, where family and friends were celebrating his elderly mother's birthday. Wasting no time, the group began playing Las Ma anitas, the popular Mexican birthday song, as they strode in. Dozens of guests seated at folding tables applauded their arrival. The band set up across from the seated matriarch as a line formed for those in attendance to pay their respects. Guests showered her with hugs and birthday wishes. This was a far cry from the stories of narcos that I had been told.
Not one attendee batted an eyelash at the stranger standing in the corner scribbling notes and taking pictures. Quite the contrary, I was welcomed with open arms, generously offered food and beer and made to feel very much at home. After a few songs, Martinez showed up, grabbed her guitar, and jumped right in. Mariachis must be familiar with hundreds of songs, so even if they've never rehearsed together, they are able to play in sync with just the mention of a song title or the strum of a few chords. She provided a worthy foil to Pe a's masculine showmanship and rich baritone, singling out audience members and passionately singing to them.
Mariachi Internacional Varas Nayarit perform at a birthday party. | Photo: Matt Stromberg
Although mariachis have traditionally been men, women are increasingly present in the community, both in co-ed groups and all-female ensembles. Its very rare that weve had clients not wanting women. In 20 years plus [of playing], Ive only had two times that a customer didnt want a girl, said Beatriz Martinez, a former student of Kilpatrick's who often performs with her husband Eduardo. Now people request women, at least one to sing.
As the evening wore on, a group of men took turns singing their favorite songs as the band backed them up. Then, after two hours, the host thanked Pe a and paid him; the group packed up and hopped back in the van.
Mariachi Internacional Varas Nayarit perform at a birthday party. | Photo: Matt Stromberg
The origins of mariachi music can be traced back to the Spanish colonial era in the state of Jalisco. Although different cities have laid claim to its birthplace, Guadal
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Mariachi Internacional Varas Nayarit arrive at the location of their gig. | Photo: Matt Stromberg 
