Neath The Sombrero: Mariachi Wars Continue In Boyle Heights
Mariachi Plaza, a square in Boyle Heights, has served as a gathering spot for musicians since the 1940s. Players arrive with guitars, violins and trumpets, ready to perform for any interested passers-by. In recent years the mariachi mecca has seen a surge in instrumentalists, causing hourly rates to drop and fists to raise, as reported by The NY Times.
For more than a decade the hourly mariachi rate was $50. Business slowed, new musicians took to the square and competition thickened, causing rates to plummet to $30 per hour. Verbal and physical fights ensued among musicians, desperate for what little jobs were available.
Many newcomers allegedly lack knowledge of the history of Mexican music. Alejandro Cisneros, a local mariachi, calls them "pirates."
Old-timers are referred to as "the businessmen" by Juan Ariso. He claims the Mariachi Plaza veterans are too focused on money and territorial over the square.
Cisneros explains, “This is our profession, our job, our passion. We don’t want to have it ruined by these people who do not know what they are doing.”
Recent customer complaints accuse the plaza of hosting mediocre bands and musicians. Renovations at the Boyle Hotel contributed to the scattering of mariachis, some who had lived there for decades.
A new subway station at the plaza revived the location, but mariachis are still concerned about their livelihoods. Friday afternoons in the plaza now include a farmers market, and the area has begun to gentrify with trendy coffeehouses and wine bars.
It is not common for a mariachi to stand for hours without playing for money. While the United Mariachi Organization of Los Angeles protects the minimum and maximum hourly rates charged in the plaza plus provides picture identification cards for the musicians, some mariachis feel the union might be unnecessary.
"What we really need is more work," said Martin Gonzales, a plaza regular for over two decades.
How can we help, Angelenos? Visit the plaza on days off and enjoy strong Mexican coffee, authentic Mexican fare and the skillful songs of local mariachis.
