[onemanguitarband]

A tripod really is a necessity for good results, but if you really can't afford one before the holidays and you want to test it out "hand held" style. There is a little trick that will help improve your results. Bring a piece of rope and probably a large washer. Tie the washer to one end and tie other end of the rope around the camera. Then as you shoot your video sand on the washer/rope and pull it tight so the camera doesn't move on the vertical plane. Obviously this will not prevent shakeyness, but it will cut down on it.

Another option, depending on the venue, etc... is to bring a sturdy mic stand and get/make and adapter for the stand to put the camera on, and do a static shot. In a dark venue, if you set it up and close the LCD view screen and put a small piece of tape over the RED led for record, many times it will go undetected, if you set up in the right place.