gregory
But people DO do that, especially with doctors and lawyers. "Oh, you're a lawyer - can you tell me what's the right phrase to use to make sure my sister cannot claim from my will..." And I have even seen it with more practical occupations: "Oh right - well my boiler is making a banging noise; what do you think it is" Followed by "Well, can you come and listen to it in a day or two and maybe you can make it stop..."This HAS happened occasionally, though not in a group-context, more people who know asking occasionally. I have a policy: if *I* offer a reading, it's free. If anyone *asks* for a reading, they pay the going rate. This is what I do for cash, it's that simple. Ask them if they'd insist that a plumber do their pipes for free or a mechanic fix their car for free. That makes people stop and reconsider their requests.
I once had a friend who was a doctor, and who took to saying he was an accountant - but then people started to ask him to look at their tax returns. Last I heard he was still trying to think of something SO boring people would glaze over instead of asking for free help...