CharroBeans: A Mariachi Podcast

The CharroBoys discuss cool experiences we've had because of mariachi. After Sammy discusses accompanying several artists this week, we discuss how mariachi can help open many doors in your musical and personal career. We get into your responses, and also a gig that had us walk to the other side of town in the rain. Not fun. 

The CharroBoys celebrate 5 years of CharroBeans Podcast. As much as we want this to be a place where you unwind, It’s hard to not speak of the atrocious things happening currently to our communities. Mariachi is Mexico’s music for the world and the people we play for and interact with are being targeted right now in the cruelest of ways. Do not stop speaking your voice and continue to bring awareness to the unjust treatment of our people. Keep you and your loved ones safe. 🇲🇽

We also get into what makes a mariachi run efficiently. Whether it’s communication, leaving your ego at the door, or charisma, we discuss what makes or breaks a group. 

The CharroBoys discuss awkward gig moments. Everyone knows how we’re put in the strangest of situations at these performances. Whether it’s dedicating sad songs for weddings, clients arguing with each other, proposals gone wrong, or getting hit on by older people, we’d do it all over again and again. We discuss. 

The CharroBoys talk mariachi etiquette. A mariachi means you have to work as a team, right? What makes a good compañero? What’s mariachi drama? Should mariachis be clean shaven? We get into all your responses. 

The CharroBoys went through some rough weather here in Texas. Whether it’s severe thunderstorms, snow, or desert heat, clients seem to always put us in the most unfortunate of circumstances. We discuss rain on your instrument and playing in sub zero temps. How much should a mariachi charge? Mas barato o más caro? 

The CharroBoys are exhausted. Mother’s Day Marathon has come and gone. 20 hours of gigging later, we recount the events such as shooting pew pews for someone’s mom, showing up for a prank serenade, applying sunscreen wrong, and body parts hurting more this year. We’re getting old, y’all. 

The CharroBoys, fresh off their last Cinco de Mayo gig, are tired. Heading into the next round of gigs with Mother’s Day coming up, we get into playing for the elderly at retirement homes, Sammy playing for NASCAR, and gigs where you think “how did I get here?” Mariachi can take you to some weird places, man.  

The CharroBoys get into mariachi rep. How much rep do you need to actually start gigging professionally? We talk about learning theory, learning the staples of mariachi, and finding the most requested songs in your region. All we know is it’s never enough 🥲

The CharroBoys get into a conversation about what the hardest thing about being a mariachi is. Is it the long hours, never seeing your friends or family on weekends, unstable work? We discuss.

The CharroBoys discuss which clients are the best to play for. After playing for some people who knew nothing about mariachi rep, it got us thinking about which clients make the gig easier or more challenging to go through. We also discuss playing at a disorganized wedding, our inicios in mariachi, and making it in the big leagues of mariachi, along with its challenges. Would you pursue a dream of playing with a nationally recognized group?