Eager for an audience, nervous and shy about solo practice?

[booksherpa]

Okay, so I need to practice on my own. Something. ANYTHING. I'm in between classes right now, and I have a whole week until rehearsals start for the new thing I'm doing and I'm jonesin' for improv.

But as not nervous as I generally am to get up in front of an audience, I feel weird and awkward and shy about solo practice, about speaking aloud and doing stuff even though no one else is there. I've got some lists of games to try, I've got my copy of Mick Napier's book with its lovely list of solo games, and can't get over feeling stupid talking out loud to myself. (I have been a little obsessed with Da Doo Run Run, so I've been playing that, but singing in my car doesn't feel silly...) Solo work just seems to set off all the "in my head" demons: "Why are you talking to yourself? Do you know how stupid you sound? This is ridiculous. You just look silly."

Help!

Oh yeah, and if you know a timer app or program that will go off at random increments (say, anything between 30 and 90 seconds) to use for doing a character switch exercise, that would also be lovely.

Thanks!

[jillybee72]

Ask one other person to play one word story and crambo and alphabet scene with you. It can be a co-worker or a kid or a friend or anyone.