Unofficial Start
An Unofficial Start is a low-key activity, puzzle or prompt placed in the room before the announced start time so that early arrivals have something to do and someone to talk to. The term comes from Mark Collard of playmeo, who describes it as a strategy and not a single game. By the official start the group is already talking, and latecomers have missed nothing essential.
Facilitation script
- 1
Before doors open: place the activity where arrivals see it first and put up a short written invitation.
2 min - 2
As people arrive: greet them, point to the activity and connect each newcomer with someone already working on it.
6 min - 3
At start time: get attention, resolve the puzzle or collect a few answers, and thank those who took part.
2 min - 4
Make the official start with one sentence that links the activity to the session, then move into your opening.
1 min
Tips
Pick something that works with two people and still works with twenty, because you cannot predict how the room fills.
Stay out of your slides and laptop for these minutes; the strategy depends on you being at the door and in the room.
Close it on time even if people are enjoying themselves, otherwise punctual participants learn that the start time is negotiable.
Common pitfalls
Choosing an activity that needs a full briefing, so every new arrival interrupts the people already playing and you spend the time repeating rules
Hiding behind the laptop while the activity runs; without a host inviting them, most people look at it once and sit down
Letting it run past the announced start, which tells punctual participants that their punctuality did not matter
Building essential content into it, so latecomers do miss something and the main benefit of the approach is lost
Making participation feel compulsory; people who prefer to arrive quietly then start the day defensive
Variations
Remote: open the call five minutes early with a question on a shared board, a poll or a prompt to answer in chat. For multi-day events, use a different unofficial start each morning and after lunch. Content-linked version: post a question related to the topic and use the answers in your opening. Typical activities are word puzzles, brain teasers, a pin-your-home-town map or a simple rope or object puzzle.
Where it fits
When to use it
Participants arrive over ten or fifteen minutes and the early ones would otherwise sit in silence with their phones
The group does not know each other and the first minutes in the room set the tone for the day
You expect latecomers and do not want to repeat instructions or start with important content half the room misses
A session restarts after a break and people drift back at different times
An online meeting has a waiting period while people connect and sort out audio
When not to use it
Everyone arrives together, for example from a previous session next door; go straight into a proper opener or check-in
You are still setting up the room and cannot be present; an unattended activity is ignored, so finish the set-up first
The meeting is short and strictly timed, such as a 30-minute decision meeting; start with the agenda
The occasion is serious, for example a restructuring announcement or a conflict session; a puzzle on arrival sends the wrong signal, so offer coffee and a calm welcome instead
Related methods
Frequently asked questions
What is Unofficial Start?▾
An Unofficial Start is an optional activity that is already running when participants arrive, before the session formally begins. It gives early arrivals something to do together and lets the facilitator begin on time with a group that is already warmed up. The term is credited to Mark Collard of playmeo.
What activities work as an unofficial start?▾
Anything that explains itself in a sentence and can be joined halfway through: a word puzzle or brain teaser on a flip chart, a question to answer on a sticky note, a map to mark where people travelled from, or a small prop puzzle on a table. Avoid games with rounds, teams or scoring, because they exclude whoever arrives next.
How long should an unofficial start last?▾
As long as the arrival window, usually between two and fifteen minutes before the announced start. It ends when the official programme begins. The closing itself should take a minute or two.
Is an unofficial start the same as an icebreaker?▾
No. An icebreaker is part of the programme, starts when everyone is present and usually involves the whole group. An unofficial start happens before the programme, is optional and is designed for people joining one by one. Many facilitators use both: the unofficial start during arrival and a short opener afterwards.
Does it work for online meetings?▾
Yes. Open the room a few minutes early and show a slide with a simple prompt to answer in chat, a quick poll or a shared board where people place a mark. Greet people by name as they join and read out a few answers when you start.
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Mark Collard, playmeo.