How much to tip a mariachi band you hire?
 

We are planning on hiring a mariachi band to play at our wedding for one hour (330 dollars per hour), but I guess this is a double question...how many people are usuallly in a mariachi band, and how much do you tip? <BR> <BR>Calculator says a 30% tip is another 100.00 dollars, so is that good? Or do you hand them each a 20 dollar bill....just curious???

They typically range from 5 to 7 players. <BR> <BR>$330 divided by 7 = $47 per person for one hour. <BR>If there's 5 members, that's $66 each for one hour. <BR>Are you absolutely positive you are being quoted in USA DOLLARS? <BR>Could it be in Mexican Pesos? They also use the $ (dollar sign) before their peso numerals? <BR> <BR>That seems terribly expensive (actually excessive) to me unless your wedding is taking place far away from a centrally located hotel/resort and the band members must travel a very long distance to your wedding reception. <BR>If you are having your wedding reception at a large resort and dealing with a wedding consultant through that resort, they may be charging you an exhorbitant fee and keeping a large percentage for themselves; i.e., the band not getting that $330. <BR> <BR>Who is this "Calculator" that says you should tip another 30%? <BR>Again, that seems excessive to me as it means you are paying each band member $67 to $86 for one hour's playing! Sorry, I think that's ridiculous. <BR> <BR>In any event, I would tip each band member individually and no more than USA$10 and put the money in each person's hand to ensure that each person actually gets it -- not just the band leader -- who may or may not share that extra money equally with the band members. <BR> <BR>Please double check that your quote for hiring a band is in American dollars or Mexican Pesos. <BR> <BR>Keep in mind that the minimum wage is Mexico is USA $4 PER DAY! <BR> <BR>P.S. Typically in a Mexican restaurant where you request a Mariachi band to play a song for you by request, you give them $5 to $10 per song. You're looking at paying about $16.50 per song! <BR> <BR>60 minutes divided by 3 minutes per song <BR>= 20 songs. <BR>330 divided by 20 = USA$16.50. <BR> <BR>

It's a lotta dough (US$)but that's the price. <BR>Remember that a man will pay that much, Yes a month's wages, for his Daughter's 15th Birthday "quinces" celebration. <BR>Those Bands don't work a lot and they have expenses like anybody else. <BR>Propina? <BR>Tip? <BR>Hell Man they are being paid cash aren't they? <BR>Directly or did you use an agent? <BR>In any case a US#20 each is lots. <BR>Careful they don't try to stay later, drink, eat, play and try to charge you more!!!

I am getting married at Le Kliff, and actually, I thought this would be the standard price for a mariachi band....but hey, I am a tourist... <BR> <BR>Anyhow, the lady who is my wedding consultant quoted me this price...(once again, it seemed like the normal price to pay a band for live entertainment for an hour straight....???) and I just figured a 20-30% tip would be nice. <BR> <BR>Trust me, I am far from wealthy, but I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't being stingy, or classless. So would you suggest a ten dollar tip per band member? <BR> <BR>Band will be playing waaaay after the reception and cake cutting...so they hopefully won't be participating in the eating and drinking!

You 'wedding consultant' is getting about 30% of that money, so, if you want to tip figure 20% of $220 (what the band end up with) equals <BR>$44. <BR>JR

Stacey, after reading your second message and ALL the others, I did some Internet 'surfing,' and urge you to look at the following Le Kliff webpage advertising THEIR wedding package. <BR> <BR>http://www.vallartaweddings.com/lekliff.htm <BR> <BR> <BR>1. Note that it states all the wedding services, etc. are ARRANGED for you by the same family that owns the restaurant. That's your 'wedding consultant.' <BR>2. Their blanket quoted price of $60 per person INCLUDES mariachi music as well as other services such as wedding ceremony, transportation, food, etc. <BR>3. The photo of the musicians show 3 men....not 5, or 7. <BR> <BR>I suggest you contact your 'wedding consultant' and ask flat out how many people are in the band? That way, you'll be able to put a $10 or a $20 bill in 3, 5, or 7 plain envelopes ahead of time and simply hand them to each band member when they have finished playing and are packing up their instruments. <BR>Are they the restaurant's house band which plays at Le Kliff regularly? <BR>Is this a different band being hired especially for YOUR wedding? <BR> <BR>It really does sound as if you are being charged a huge amount for one (1) hour's entertainment. And if JRinPV (a PV resident, I assume) is correct in stating that the 'wedding consultant' (restaurant owner) is taking 30% ($99) off the top as THEIR fee for making a phone call, that does seem excessive. <BR> <BR>I wonder if Le Kliff allows you to hire and bring in your own band? If so, perhaps JRinPV will read this and perhaps recommend a band that he/she knows is a good one. <BR> <BR>By the way, Le Kliff looks to be a simply gorgeous setting, and I include my good wishes to you and congratulations to that special man in your life! <BR>

"INCLUDES mariachi music" is that a full live band or just a guy with a synthesizer (seen it many times) or just taped music? <BR>Or will you get the sad news that the 'regular' musicians can't make it, after you've paid of course and 30 minutes before they are due to start,but that there are 'others' available for just a bit more? <BR>They could show a picture of an elephant on the web site but believe me that doesn't mean it's provided!!! <BR>LOL !! <BR>Folks this is Mexico we're talking about, as they say on EBay 'Caveat Emptor'!

I know Vallarta Weddings very well. Note: it says 'Service' is supervised by the owners of Le Kliff, this is the food service not the wedding service. <BR>The photos are from several weddings and in the 3rd picture there's a full Mariachi band on the right. I've know Michael of Vallarta Weddings for many years and can attest to his honesty and integrity.

Oh boy, I guess I should have clarified all of this ahead of time! I didn't know that some of you were going to do research (smile!!) <BR> <BR>Actually, this was the same price that was quoted for having a band of 5-7 at La Jolla de Mismaloya (actually, they quoted me a higher price, I think) BEFORE I got a wedding consultant, so I didn't think the prices were outrageous.....but to clarify Le Kliff's package....they are having their TRIO play for us (as advertised), but that is all that they have. They contract out for a whole mariachi band (which is what I was planning to do. The trio and mariachi band are two different sets of musicians, so hopefully that makes sense. The wedding consultant isn't screwing me over....oh, and the owners ARE helping to orchestrate the wedding, so hopefully on their end, they are being honest with the price. <BR> <BR>My wedding consultant said I would be paying cash to the mariachi band, so I think the money goes directly...I will check on that... <BR> <BR>Does this price really seem outlandish to everyone? I guess I am hoping that this is considered to be a top-notch, professional sort of group (especially if I pay this amount)...does anyone know the standard cost of renting a mariachi band down in Puerto Vallarta??? <BR> <BR>Thanks so much for the replies...I guess I was in the dark for awhile!

JUST TO CLARIFY FOR ALL WHO "KNOW". The "real" Mariachi bands in Jalisco (PV) all belong to a union. It is union pay scale that dictates what is the charged for hour. An honest to goodness, official Mariachi Band consists of anywhere from 11-16 band members. It is also not necessary and not expected to be tipped after they play, since they are being paid from $330-$350 USD per hour (depending on what the exchange rate is at the time). All of the Mariachi Bands work by contract. <BR> <BR>If you book a mariachi band thru a hotel, the hotel takes a percentage. <BR> <BR>I, as a wedding consultant DO NOT! I was very insulted when I read that someone thinks that I do. Do not state what you do not know. Those "mariachi" bands that play the beach are not true mariachi bands, as they are just a bunch of guys that play together to make money. They are street musicians and nothing more. <BR> <BR>Hope this clarifies things so that they are crystal clear. Any more Qs may be directed to me at the email address listed. <BR> <BR>Kathy Lynn Kinzel <BR>Travel/Wedding Consultant <BR>Vallarta My Way <BR>[email protected]

You're a Mexican agent yet do not double-dip. <BR>Yeah right!