Ken: I have had one of these for almost 30 years. It is tough and gets used probably more for indoor shooting than a tripod. Try this: rent one for that recital. Instead of being the idiot who sets up the tripod right in the aisle clamp this onto your arm rest. You have a steady platform that sets up faster than a tripod and isn't in the way. You are not blocking the view of the people behind you nor are you being a fire hazard.

Vincent: I own one of these, and it is very versatile, like your own little robot arm (without the powered motion.) The one lever at the elbow, which you have to put some muscle in to move, loosens up the elbow and both ends at once. It actually is targeted at photography, with the camera mount being DSLR-focused, not having a positioning pin. With the wide, low legs, I use it as a tabletop microphone stand, for large microphones with shock mounts that cantilever out too far and tip over typical tabletop mic stands.