Hi Gary, considering you say you don't play the acoustic piano, I still strongly recommend that you set your arranger on TOP of the piano and perform standing up. I definitely DON'T recommend you even consider squeezing yourself behind the piano.

From my years of experience of playing & having worked many similar long standing acoustic piano bar venues, I can tell you that playing the piano and primiarily utilizing the arranger keyboard (placed on top of the piano) for auto accompaniment backup and playing bass lines, will yield FAR more tips than playing the arranger kb alone. For whatever reason, when patrons see an acoustic piano, they expect a keyboard musician to play it (well), and will subsequently tip a lot more for that pleasure as well.

That being said, you must 'at least' perform from the playing position of the acoustic piano in order to provide your audience seated around you on the bar stools full attention both while performing and during the obligatory stage patter of humor & charm, and wit that I'm sure you will be sharing with your audience. This ensures that tips continuously fly into the big fancy crystal tip jar you have positioned within easy aim on top of the piano (directly under the spotlight of course).

This venue looks to be a great opportunity for you to expand your following and clientle, and potentially land those even higher paying private party & special function gigs. Gary, wishing you the best of luck on the audition. Just Go have fun and that itself will land you the gig. - Scott