Pro's: - PERSONAL lasting memory of the show
- Can revisit the show any time you want
- Fun to play with your expensive toys
- Some bands give you special attention and REALLY appreciate your taping and giving them copies
- Same for venue, little clubs will give you all the free drinks you want for copies of great shows
- MOST IMPORTANT: Hot chicks seeing you tape and asking you for copies...you do the math
Con's: - Security hassles
- Drunks (in my case, that includes me at lots of shows - ha ha ha)
- Big venues, your friends want to run for a beer in the beer garden...leave your gear or stay by yourself??
- MOSH PITS near your gear
Overall - I love taping. If I go to shows with a special someone, I won't tape as I hope to make my own special memories for the night
When stealth taping, I used to stand like a rigid pole to get a good recording, have since relaxed and just hoped the recording turned out OK for my own personal enjoyment. What I can say is I've gone to see some taper friendly/little bands that I NEVER would have gone to if it wasn't to tape them and have been introduced to some of my favorite bands that way.
If you're thinking of getting into the hobby, I'd recommend a cheap setup to see if you enjoy it...if not, why do it? If you enjoy it then the investment is totally worth it and the Pro's will greatly outweigh the Con's.