How to Hire a Mariachi Band

When it's time to party, you hire a band. When it's a fiesta, you hire a "Mariachi band." Many types of occasions need a Mariachi band, such as wedding entertainment, or a Cinco de Mayo celebration. Use the following as a guide in hiring a Mariachi band for your event.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Contact an entertainment company that specializes in music. These companies have many bands and musical groups that they handle booking arrangements for. Also, try contacting party and event planners for recommendations on who to contact.
2. Ask friends and family for recommendations of Mariachi bands that they have heard at other parties or events. Get the phone number and contact them directly.
3. Request a sample CD or video of the Mariachi band to listen and watch before you sign a contract to hire them for your event. Also, request a list of their music to review for selections that you would want to hear. Many of the bands have their own websites where you can watch a video clip or download samples of their music.
4. Go to an event where the Mariachi bands you are considering to hire are performing. This is the best way to see how they perform and how the guests relate to them.
5. Put all your requirements in writing in the form of an event contract. Make sure that it clearly states the date of the event, the time the band is to arrive, the length of time they are to perform and the amount that you are agreeing to pay. The payment issue must be clearly stated in writing. If you agree to pay them $500 for the evening, put it in writing, so that no one comes back to you expecting payment of $500 for members of the band individually. Also, do not pay the entire required fee up front, as you may never see your band arrive at all.

Tips & Warnings

• Most think of a Mariachi band as a 3 or 4 person group, but there can actually be 8 or 10 members of the band. So, be very clear on your payment of "the band as a whole" instead of payment to each individual musician.