Musicians live their “August” at Santiago’s festivals. They usually have between 1 and 2 events a week, but on these dates they have contracts every day, meaning an increase in work of approximately 300%. “These days we take advantage of the work because on other dates there are fewer contracts and you cannot live off of music alone,” said Miguel Meza, from the orchestra La Exclusiva Selección del Perú.
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The musicians also commented that costs go up by up to 50%, since from what each one charges around S/ 200 per day, at Santiago festivals they charge up to S/ 300 and S/ 350. “They usually charge more because Santiago is busier and more tiring and they mostly do the parades,” said Ponciano Coronel, saxophonist of the Hermanos Coronel orchestra.
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Erick Davirán, director of the Potencia Musical Clase A orchestra, said: “Sometimes the work is a bit tiring because we have to travel for hours or else we start early and go on until very late at night, but we do everything to fulfill our promise, the contractors and our fans are our reason.” To organize the parties, between 8 and 20 musicians from an orchestra are normally hired and the cost depends on the number of musicians, distance and hours of show.
