I've had a jackass come sit at a table with myself and a few friends, and its very awkward to explain how I know some guy who is 25+ years older who calls me by another name

Look at the other side of this would you want me to stop and say hi while you are out with wife/friends/co-workers? Then you are forced to explain how you know "that woman"

once or twice i've run across a regular in a restaurant setting. i decided the best thing to do was to leave.

and this is an outdoor two level mall in Richmond (Short Pump), shopping with my mom.  This guy, who I had NEVER met, starts yelling "CAROLINE! CAROLINE!' over and over from the top level while I was on the bottom level.

I was HORRIFIED.

He later sent me and instant message and asked me why I did not talk to him.  Um, yeah.

Dont bother saying anything, just focus on reality. She is doing a job and acted like she was your GF. Just enjoy the hour and leave, there is no emotional connection on her part.

It only happened once to me and I stayed on the other side of the room.

I was at the now gone Baja Beach Club in Baltimore. One of the limited time TGND girls (because she didn't live up the the standards) was there with her friends. I promptly went on the other side of the club and made sure I was never near her. She probably would not have remembered me anyways because I only saw her once.

Just kidding! If you see me out in the real world please be respectful. Who knows who i'm with. Someone could be just around the corner or stepped away for a moment and I would hate them asking " who was that?". Even if it's s regular. I HAVE seen clients out in public and we would just smile and nod to each other... Descreetly.

If you recognize me in public - and you call me out by my "work" name, then I am probably not going to acknowledge you.  Especially if I am with my family.  

If I'm by myself, and we have met before, then yes.  Smile, nod, wave, whatever, and wait for an invitation to start a conversation.  Be discreet. Stpauljames if you made eye contact and she didn't indicate that she remembered you then you did right by not approaching her, even if she was alone.  

That being said:  I am not your typical provider - partly because I'm new - and partly because I'm just a put it out there kind of person.  Those who love and care about me know what I do in my spare time, and nothing I do seems to surprise anyone!  

So hey, if you see me dancing on the bar at Power Plant (which I have been known to do), by all means!  Join me!!

Always assume an escort's professional life is a secret to anyone she's with, so avoid any obvious acknowledgment if you encounter her in public with anyone or in a situation where she may be with someone nearby who may be out of immediate sight.  

However, in the situation you describe, it is possible to make a polite approach just as you might do with a civvie woman stranger who is sitting alone.  You could offer to buy her a drink if you are sitting at the next table or close enough not to have to raise your voice, If she declines, let it drop and say nothing further.  If she accepts, you may ask if she minds you joining her or if she would prefer to be alone.  If she's too far away to hear your quiet voice you may send a drink through your waiter with the same question, "Would the lady like company or would she prefer to be alone?"  She'll nod yes or shake her head no.  Accept a denial with grace and do not push the issue.  If she accepts your joining her do not bring up your prior encounters.  If she wants to discuss it or find out if you are a past customer, she'll find a way of asking.  Otherwise you're just two people enjoying each other's company, and if single, maybe open to doing so again.