for a full week prior to such assignments. Get used to how heavy they are and what you will need to do to carry them. Another tip is to use a monopod instead of a tripod. (My concert shots these days are all shot with a monopod). They are easier to carry, they collapse to small sizes and still give a fair amount of stability. They are not as good as tripods, but they will serve the purpose and will enhance your efforts.
This shot of LPGA golfer Nancy Lopez was shot in the 1980s with my 200mm f/4 telephoto lens from a distance of about 500 feet.
This shot of James Taylor and Carole King (Lee Sklar on bass) was shot from the back of an auditorium with my 180mm lens. (Digital processing - ISO 600, actually hand-held).
The main takeaway from this article is that telephoto lenses require some stability, higher ISO settings and much more selective use.