If you’re marketing your service – schmoozing, trolling for clients, massaging clients, whatever quasi-prostituting phrase you want to use – it’s very easy to run up a tab of a couple thou. Just take an upscale restaurant, a dozen or so like-minded people, and lots and lots of high-end drinks, and mix well.
Hey love, remember when I “disputed” the service charge at the Indian restaurant in D.C., when they forced you to pay it? Remember how angry I was? 
And remember how they negated the entire $60 bill as a result? 
Good times…