I still feel it looks bad to walk away whilst it's playing...I think they'd (the audience)still think you (not you, specifically) had been faking it no matter how much effort you put into it...the fact that something (anything) is still playing without your hands on the keys, is kind of a dead giveaway.

You and I might know the difference...but the average listener would feel that it was a fake.

And...we do play for the average listener or the "common ear" as I like to call it...and once they get the idea(even though it's wrong) that you're not really playing, their opinion of arranger players has changed for the worst.

You might get away with it if only the drums were playing...but not if there is a bit more happening, like a bass line or chords playing.

Again..it's just my peeve, and it's sure not to matter to many other players.

Ian