I think you'd find the stabilization factor pretty impressive... I've only used it at a couple conventions, but I got good shots from far away in crappy light, so it must have been effective. :)

I don't recall the brand off hand (it's at home and I'm at work, and my searches through online vendors are not being terribly helpful), but most such products are pretty inexpensive.

In any case, since I'm driving in, I don't mind tossing it in the backseat at all. Consider it yours to experiment with for the Saturday events if you'd like. :)