The Disco Ball Factory

When living in Beijing and Shanghai, I was convinced it was my duty as an American to bring Halloween to China. As such, I held increasingly large and elaborate Halloween gatherings, the latest iterations of which included makeup artists, props and costumes for anyone arriving who hadn’t already put 120% effort in their look.

The parties were always an opportunity to update my décor, hang new photos, get new plants and find fun props like mannequins and funky furniture.

Living in the factory floor of the world, anything and everything was available, even the most obscure items. The fabric market in Beijing was a favorite for decoration, and I once found an actual human skull at Pan Jia Yuan antique market in Beijing. My Ayi, or helper, hated it and always hid it until Halloween came around. I gave it to a friend before moving, fearful of traveling with an actual human skull…

One of the last festivities in Shanghai (which one year included the whole party riding on a double-decker bus to the Bund) I was searching for a disco ball for my lane house.

I was extremely fortunate at the time to have a driver. Mr. Wang is a top man. He knows all the obscure shortcuts in Shanghai, drives like an F1 pro and was always willing to stay out for a late night.

I asked Mr. Wang if he knew where to get a disco ball. Hmmm, he thought. We clarified “disco ball” in mandarin to make sure we were aligned… and then he took off. Two hours later, he came back with a crate containing a massive disco ball.

Asked where I got it, he replied, “the Disco Ball Factory.” Sure enough, just outside of Shanghai’s city center there is a factory (of course) that makes disco balls.

I never made it to the factory but have always thought about it as a magical place like Charlie’s Chocolate Factory but where everyone rocks 24/7.

I think about that factory through the lens of the current massive supply chain disruption, and imagine there are abandoned disco balls sitting in a warehouse, waiting to be delivered to eager customers whose grooves are held in limbo.

We’re planning a much more subdued gathering with our toddlers this year. Fortunately, we have boxes of supplies from years’ past and haven’t needed to depend on any global supply chain.

Here’s hoping your supply lines are flowing and that you and yours have a safe and happy Halloween!