A beautiful table helps, but a playable table matters more. Give each player enough elbow room for a rack, card, exposures, and a clear discard area. Keep drinks on side tables when possible.
Set out only what the group will use
Prepare four racks, the active 152 tiles, dice, and matching current annual cards. If your set includes extra jokers, blanks, or spare tiles, remove them unless everyone has agreed to a house rule.
Teach in layers
First identify suits and honors. Then deal. Next teach the Charleston as a visible pass map. Only after the first practice turn should you explain calls and exposures. Teach joker exchange when one appears naturally.
Agree before the first roll
Confirm whether the second Charleston will be used, what blind-pass convention the group follows, and whether the evening is instructional or competitive. A two-minute agreement prevents most table friction.