start with a bracket like

start with a bracket like this:

here’s me with my hdr hc1, rode mic, sony vid light, and home made dead cat, on the bracket.

just using a bracket will help.
then use your tripod, or a bogen magic arm as a ballast, if properly balanced will work as good as a homemade steadycam rig, but be usefull for other things as well. why carry extra weight around when you can use multi purpose tools? obviously the tripod and magic arm can serve more uses than a homade bar with a weight.