This probably isn't a newly discovered tip, I'm certain someone has applied this before, but if you're running a level rod, and don't have a hand level, you can always step to the side of the rod and line it up with features on the horizon for a more plumb position. Just commenting on things that cross my mind occasionally.
One old trick is to balance the staff (as we call them - assume we're talking same) lightly between your fingers so it doesn't tilt in any direction when let go. Then you know it's vertical.
Also when placed on something like a spike, domed head mark, rock staff back and forward slowly (before and past vertical) and record the lowest reading.
I'd request latter even when using a bubble.
It was a check for verticality and also made you take a serious look at the reading.
Plus if a compensator button was fitted to level give it a tweak. Assuming the compensator was working!
Oh and if there's a little drain hole in bottom plate, don't place it on a spike head!
No balancing the rod around here. Our average wind speed is somewheres around 17 MPH, which makes holding a rod steady kinda hard, but balancing it, nope, not gonna work. Some days the wind is just to much to run a loop and expect any real closure.
I had figured out when I was working around Seymour that 23 mph was my limit on wind speed even with a bubble. Once it got over that, I could not accurately set points so I would go back to the office and do something else. This was setting mag nails along a shoulder for offsets to the centerline of two new lanes.
James
Doesn't work with digital levels, but for optical, rock the rod back and forth through vertical. The instrument man will see the rod rising and falling. The bottom of the fall, the lowest number, is the number.