How does on get away with it without being obvious? I'm curious about how one sneaks in the equipment as well actually going about recording the show.
Search for keywords: stealth, crotch
Some of my stealths some terrific, some of them sound awful. How do these two different results come about?
Location, quality of gear.
What is buying stealth taping equipment like? Is it more or less expensive or difficult to acquire than "regular" taping gear?
Check the Where To Begin forum, in which there's a thread detailing the costs of much of the gear we commonly use. Each piece of gear is noted as stealthable or not. Compare.
What about conversions?
Depends on your recorder. JB3 = firewire / USB transfer. For more info, see the JB3 Tapers FAQ in the Archive | Recording Gear forum. DAT = real-time playback of the digital signal through a bit-transparent soundcard. MD = real-time playback of the digital signal through a bit-transparent soundcard. Hi-MD...sorry, don't know.
Could I find someone to convert it or would I have to do it on my own?
Some people have "transfer bitches". IMO, you're better of doing it yourself.
What are the legal implications of stealthing? If I'm caught at a nice, expensive jazz club will I be thrown out or will they take my gear or ban me from the club?
Is there any other advice you can offer me?
Check the Archive | Microphones forum for a thread with links to stealth gear discussions. Everything you're asking has been covered before. Read the Where To Begin forum in detail and understand it all, read the Archives, take advantage of the Search feature, then come back with specific questions.
And if you haven't figured it out, I'm the grumpy moderator who's seen every question asked 2,000 times and directs people to read the archives, use the search feature, etc. - basically, take some ownership and seek the answers first before asking.