Mariachi bands following people around (1950s, if that matters)

Factual Questions
1

I just saw the great movie Victims of Sin (Victimas del Pecado), which was made in 1951 in Mexico. In a few scenes, one of the main characters, a kind of bigshot hustler, is wandering around town at night followed by a mariachi band. He’s in semi-deserted areas of the city including train tracks, etc. Is this supposed to be a touch of surrealism or did people actually do this? Would the hustler have paid the band to follow him around, and if so, why? Or would a band just choose someone who they thought had money and then follow them around town, hoping for a tip? In other words, is this something that would really happen in that time period? And if so, does it still happen today?

2

The bastards still did it in the 80s at Six Flags Magic Mountain. They’re worse than Mimes.

3

Sounds like a touch of humor or surrealism, despite Tom Lehrer’s observation:

The mariachis
Would serenade
And they would not shut up until they were paid

4

At Xochimilco Floating Gardens this was a pleasant event in the 1970s. I assume they still do it.

5

Thanks, but not asking about tourist destinations. Asking about real places where real people live. Or lived in the 1950s.

6

I read a story about some high school kids that hired one to follow their principal around.

Now THAT’s a good prank.