Hey there so the advice that you need is whether you should do it with other people around or not?
Well of course you can measure your dose and then just smoke a little. If you dont have any scale, then just apply a very tiny amount that will definetly not produce any overly high effects - like a 2x2 mm leaf if having Changa or half a knife tip of Freebase DMT.
Then just vape it and get comfortable with the soft feeling, then you can apply another dose and see when you want to stop for intensity. When going slow steps then you will definetly not need to be worried having not a partner by hand, as you could easily stop when you think it's too uncomfortable doing more being alone.
And as you say: It lasts very short. So there is not the danger of a *bad trip* that others psychedelics have ...
like for example: Walking around on the streets and getting Paranoia *Are people watching me?* *Do these guys talk about me?* Stuff that people tell after having a bad trip.
In the case of DMT you just chill and simply look where your mind takes you - there is not much of doing meanwhile, so you dont have to fear you would not be able to make a certain reaction to a certain situation or whatever ... its more of an observer than being in action yourself, therefore I would not say you could even have a bad trip in the same manner that long-lasting psychedelics COULD have.
Applying just minimal doses will definetly make you feel easy all the time, so just dip your toes and you will see whats next then.