Over time to counterreloj, Francisco Mercado and his staff composed of about thirty people They have more work than any other time of the year. While they do not lack an event to decorate (15 -year parties, marriages, etc.) is at this time of Carnival When they are not supplied and must use extra staff to support.
Five cars, including that of the Carnival Queen, must leave the eighth ring shed (G77 area), where the iron with fabrics, brightness and colors are transformed until you give free rein to the imagination. “I am bothering those who criticize That carnival is held in the midst of this crisis, they do not realize the amount of employment that is generated Only in cars, costumes, jackets … but people do not see it that way, ”Francisco laments, because there are many people who benefit and They can work thanks to this annual party.
Makes numbers and release a figure, A queen car worth $ 20,000. It does not reveal how much the sovereign of the carnival last year cost was in charge, but only with its dimensions (22 meters long) gives to think much more.
He acknowledges that a carnival car is not like riding a private reception, “we have to give all the best because there is great social pressure, your work is under the magnifying glass of society and then … I like challenges.”
Economic movement
The skinny pocket of a whole year experiences some relief with so much movement. Hairdressers They comb queens, they place headdresses, perform fantasy makeup and make simbas. Seamstresses that prepare jackets, screen printing and sublimated printing technicians, embroidery that fill the queens with brightness, Fashion designers That they create fantastic allegories, labor in the workshops where cars are shaped, merchants with all kinds of accessories for the comparsero, butchers for churrasco … It is actually a long chain that benefits.
“Carnival is the most important income of my workshopmoves very much and we give work to many people, ”confesses Rodolfo Pinto, famous for his queen’s headdres .
Remember that before Pandemia by COVID-19, when you still could talk about a golden age, The allegory of a Carnival Queen demanded $ 70,000.
Nowadays A decent queen suit around $ 10,000according to his experience, although he prefers not to put a base: “Of course we accommodate the budget of the comparsa, on that amount they put the concept is created and life is given. We are more artists than merchants, ”he emphasizes.
Pinto acknowledges that Before the crisis he attended up to 20 comparsas That they were prepared since July, mainly the female groups that in their words, are the ones that are most produced and offered a true show in the Corsican.
“The crisis went little by little. Now There is less participation of groups in the Corsican and the budget is already adjusted, Now they think about it to participate. But in the end Carnival is an escape of everything, ”says the creative who is in charge of more than 40 people working in the workshop because they even make allegories and jackets on request for the cross -country community in the Carnival in the US.
Fashion designer Paola Fioil also recognizes that no longer carnava with the luxury of before. While she attends brides, quinceañeras, candidates for Miss Santa Cruz and Miss Bolivia, Carnival was always an important date. His atelier arrived Comparsas queens that competed to have the best presentation.
“It has changed a lot, the queens now use a gala suit and only put a headdress and voila, so they go to the invitations they have, before for each occasion a dress was made.”
Heiress of her mother’s preparation, Bonacelli Fiorilo Consuelo He is able to build a queen suit and his support in 15 days. Right now he is working on the queens costumes of the provinces and also of the city.
The director of the Cruceño Statistics Institute (ICE), Juan Pablo Suárez, who recently presented an economic study of the movement generated by the Carnival, explained to El duty that among all activities related to the big party of the Cruceño, during the 365 days of the year, a Economic movement of about $ 100 million.
While Richard Gonzales, municipal secretary of Economic Development and Employment in 2022, projected that there would be 20,000 eventual jobs due to this party.
Three years have passed since things did not improve, rather The economy contracted dramaticallythe inputs that are imported are more expensive because of the exchange rate against the dollar and people think about it Twice before putting your hand in your pocket. The figures have had to get worse, without study, it is enough to visit the makers of the gigantic machine that is the carnival to check it, but still, still, It is still a profitable activitythat gives some respite to the citizen who benefits with so much work, in a context in which the unemployed and those who work ‘Al Fío’ abound.
