Maybe it's all right here, I'm talking just in case about harm of vibration
Stand or table, box or a chair - it doesn't mater, just keep it safe from shaking
Maybe your stand absorbs vibrations, than everything is OK, it is just a suggestion according to this:
Im always scared im putting a lot of pressure on the machine and i can feel it choking sometimes
Also, Macbooks has sensors inside to lock the HDD when it falls. Hard vibrations can cause this sensor to lock the drive for a few seconds.
Firewire 800 has transfer rate of about 780 Mbps, 2.5'' 5400 RPM hard drive, according to this:
tech specs, - has ~1.5 - 3 Gbps transfer rate (tech. gurus, correct me if I'm not right here).
So, even if you will connect fast external SSD, the only useful thing you'll get - resistance to vibration, but speed still will be limited by Firewire 800 permeability.
Possible solutions 1. Check if your Macbook Pro is protected from vibration. 2. Try to replace internal drive to 7200 RPM.
You know, I'm performing with Live too. And I am also doing it with Macbook Pro. One day I have found that putting soft foam under my MBP keeps it run smoother in shaky noisy places.
Also, my friend is working in computer service and he told me about hills of broken laptop HDDs in his office and that is because users are forgetting about sensitive part of computer - HDD and dropping their laptops all around
