When first person has welcomed the edgy aristocrat supporting this performance, you may start (8)

I believe the answer is:

activate

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'start' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for activate that I've seen before include "Give life to" , "Cause to start, set in motion" , "Make operative" , "Energise" , "Launch" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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