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It's going to be strange at first
The first time you tried a baroque violin, viola or cello, you must've thought "How the heck do you hold the thing? This is really awkward!" Well, at first, yes, it's a completely different feeling. You'll feel as if you're going to drop the instrument. The fact is, before the mid-19th century, no one used any of the stabilizers that are so ubiquitous these days. But think about it: Paganini didn't seem to need a chin rest. Geminiani certainly wasn't lamenting the absence of a shoulder rest. Yet these were legendary performers, known for uncanny accuracy and technique. So it is indeed possible, with time, to get perfectly comfortable with the bare instrument.
Keep it from slipping
For violinists and violists, the first thing to get is a round rubber pad that you can place on the back of your instrument, where it hits your collar bone. Drug stores used to carry them, but haven't recently, unfortunately. A simple search for "red cosmetic pad" will get you the right thing. They're cheap and come in packs of two, usually. With either a rubber band (stretched from the corner to the button), or with rubber cement (don't worry, it won't hurt your varnish), you can easily attach it to your instrument. This will keep it from slipping, and feel less like you're dropping it. There are also leather "shammies" that you can buy, which work as well, although they require a bit more maintenance as you have to place and replace it every time you raise your instrument.
For cellists, it's important to find a position of your feet and calves that enable your cello to rest in the "cradle" of your legs, with minimal squeezing. Some cellists use those under-carpet anti-slip material as an aid, as well. Cellists who are used to a more reclined position with an endpin will need to adopt a more upright position without an endpin, so you can use gravity as much as possible.
The first time you tried a baroque violin, viola or cello, you must've thought "How the heck do you hold the thing? This is really awkward!" Well, at first, yes, it's a completely different feeling. You'll feel as if you're going to drop the instrument. The fact is, before the mid-19th century, no one used any of the stabilizers that are so ubiquitous these days. But think about it: Paganini didn't seem to need a chin rest. Geminiani certainly wasn't lamenting the absence of a shoulder rest. Yet these were legendary performers, known for uncanny accuracy and technique. So it is indeed possible, with time, to get perfectly comfortable with the bare instrument.
Keep it from slipping
For violinists and violists, the first thing to get is a round rubber pad that you can place on the back of your instrument, where it hits your collar bone. Drug stores used to carry them, but haven't recently, unfortunately. A simple search for "red cosmetic pad" will get you the right thing. They're cheap and come in packs of two, usually. With either a rubber band (stretched from the corner to the button), or with rubber cement (don't worry, it won't hurt your varnish), you can easily attach it to your instrument. This will keep it from slipping, and feel less like you're dropping it. There are also leather "shammies" that you can buy, which work as well, although they require a bit more maintenance as you have to place and replace it every time you raise your instrument.
For cellists, it's important to find a position of your feet and calves that enable your cello to rest in the "cradle" of your legs, with minimal squeezing. Some cellists use those under-carpet anti-slip material as an aid, as well. Cellists who are used to a more reclined position with an endpin will need to adopt a more upright position without an endpin, so you can use gravity as much as possible.
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