Any time I am out in the world, but particularly when I am at some sort of social function, I get cornered and asked about a sign. In a way it's good, but 99% of the time, the thing that was so imperative for the person that they had to interrupt my dinner or whatever never materializes.
It's like they see you and they think "Oh, there's that sign lady. I think I'll go ask her how much it costs to refurbish my 20 year old lighted sign face that I don't really know what size it is, but she will know exactly what to quote me to the penny, and she will remember it the next time I see her at this event next year (and the year later) and in 10 years when I really might want to get the thing replaced, she will remember the price she quoted me or I will go elsewhere"
It's all part of doing business, and Like it's been said here, you must set boundaries or you will even get asked about signs when you are at a funeral or the gynecologist. My shop is at my home, and even though I have my hours of operation clearly marked, I will still get the occasional drop-in at 9PM on a Sunday. I guess it's better than the alternative, though, which means they bugged someone else.
Love....Jill
PS...my brother, who is a lawyer, and was a District Judge for more than 30 years, can't go anywhere without being pestered for (free) legal advice, and my sister, who worked for a dentist for 30 years, is always being pulled aside to view some nasty looking oral ailment. So it's the same for all trades.