While studying the booksellers’ training ritual that takes place in the larger ritualized context of the Porto Alegre Book Fair, this article attempted to analyze the work conditions of book sellers during the Fair, as well as to identify the reasons behind their commitment or non-commitment with the event’s success. The hierarchical structure found in the local daily context is also present during the Fair; however, training focuses on the praise of knowledge, culture and working people. Therefore, employees are encouraged to overlook any possibilities of criticizing work conditions in favor of the satisfaction to participate in such event. The ethnographic method, with participative observation techniques and interviews, was considered the most effective to analyze this space. Results indicate that when a ritualistic connotation is given to training, marketing aspects are neglected and emphasis is placed on the pleasure of festive events and the sociability propitiated. Thus, in spite of poor work conditions, booksellers give up even their basic needs so as to “delight” clients and, as a consequence, to sell bette
