My Event Full Life is your chance to take a peek inside the lives of the honorees of Eventbrite’s inaugural Brite25 list as they share the secrets behind their success. What lessons have these seasoned organizers learned along the way? What advice has been the most valuable? And what keeps them up at night? Get ready to be inspired.
Erika Bond’s All-Love Racquet Club was founded with a clear mission – to break down the barriers of a sport often seen as exclusive and elitist and create a space dedicated to diversity and inclusion within the world of tennis.
Rooted in community, music, and fun, the US-based club reimagines racquet sports with cookouts, courtside cocktails, youth cups, and mini-festivals, inviting guests to connect with the game in fresh and exciting ways.
Reflecting on her own journey – from feeling like “an outsider in the sport” to now “running the company of her wildest dreams” – here Erika shares how All-Love has been transformative both personally and in the wider tennis landscape.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see All-Love become a significant part of the evolving pop culture of tennis. When I think of All-Love, what I love most is that I am able to take a sport that I have always enjoyed and reimagine it through a more culturally relevant lens, creating a safe space for communities that have historically been excluded.
The inaugural All-Love event had a profound impact on me. It marked numerous significant “firsts”. It was my debut as an event host, and I navigated many new aspects for the first time—social media advertising, hiring a DJ and performers, sourcing food and local vendors, designing merchandise, and organizing a large-scale tennis program. Additionally, it was my first collaboration with a major brand like Wilson, a staple in the tennis world. Achieving all of this and attracting over 200 attendees was truly incredible.
Partnering with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) was a full-circle moment for me. Many of my childhood memories are tied to playing in USTA tournaments and leagues. While those experiences were formative, I also faced challenges due to my ethnicity and often felt like an outsider in the sport. Today, I am incredibly proud to be collaborating with the USTA to promote diversity, inclusion, culture, and community within tennis.
Transforming an idea from my mind into a fully realized event is what I cherish most as an event creator. While each event is similar, it presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth. From conceptualizing the event to designing flyers, planning social media outreach, and incorporating distinct cultural elements, I am constantly learning and evolving.
As a coach myself, I take great pride in the tennis programming we offer. One of the most memorable pieces of feedback I’ve received is the praise for the quality of tennis coaching and instruction at All-Love events. Hearing that this aspect of the event is a major draw for attendees is incredibly rewarding.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to always keep your cool no matter what. When organizing events you deal with a lot of different people and personalities, and it’s human nature for things to go wrong. But in those moments, how you carry yourself and the things you say are important. So, I try not to dwell or take things too personally, and in difficult situations, I often zoom out and remember the mission with All-Love to remind me of my purpose.
While preparing for an event earlier this year, I encountered numerous roadblocks. One major issue was securing access to reliable tennis courts. Not only was approval difficult to obtain, but the estimated cost was three times higher than usual. Feeling disheartened, I went to give a weekly lesson to a long-time client—a supportive, older white female who has championed every All-Love event from the start.
During our lesson, I shared my frustrations with her. At the end, she surprised me by saying, “I know you didn’t ask, but I’m going to help resolve these issues. I love what you’re doing with All-Love. The sport needs more inclusive spaces for everyone, regardless of their background. You must have this next event.” Her generosity was deeply appreciated, and it underscored how much the All-Love mission resonates with others. Moments like these fuel my passion and drive me to keep going every day.
The vision for All-Love Racquet Club is to solidify ourselves as a disrupter in the world of racquet sports. We want to become a leading name recognized for advancing diversity and inclusion, as well as establishing physical clubhouses in key domestic and international cities that redefine the concept of a private racquet club. We hope to expand our events and clinics globally, establish a presence at major professional tennis tournaments, form partnerships with brands, organizations, and foundations that align with our mission, and launch merchandise and exclusive fashion collections.
I see myself as someone who has successfully transformed my life. I have moved from feeling disengaged in a 9-to-5 job to owning and running the company of my wildest dreams. It will have been a journey of hard work and dedication, leading me to achieve a life where work truly is play.
Find out who else made it onto Eventbrite’s inaugural Brite25 list
