article posted 07-02-2026
The Barber Bus Is Going Full-Time: Our Nationwide Entertainment Journey Begins in January 2027
After more than three decades in the Branson area, Melonie and I are selling our home, moving aboard our 44-foot Newell motorcoach, and inviting RV resorts, motorcoach rallies, churches and theatres across America to become part of the journey.
Some new chapters begin by moving into a new home. Ours begins by letting one go.
Melonie and I have made one of the biggest and most exciting decisions of our lives: we are selling our home and, beginning in January 2027, will live and travel across the country full-time aboard our motorcoach, The Barber Bus.
It is exciting. It is a little intimidating. It is deeply personal. And we believe it is exactly where the next season of our lives is leading us.
In our newest YouTube video, “We’re Selling Our Home to Live and Tour Full Time in Our Motorcoach,” we share the announcement and begin telling the story behind this life-changing decision.
Taking a Lifetime of Entertainment Experience on the Road
For more than three decades, the Branson area has been my home, my professional base and the setting for some of the most memorable years of my career. I have had the privilege of appearing in major Branson productions, working with remarkable entertainers, operating my own theatre and developing friendships that have become an important part of our lives.
Branson will always be part of who we are. We are not leaving that experience behind—we are putting it on wheels and taking it with us.
During our first seasons of travel aboard The Barber Bus, we discovered how naturally our love of RV life fits together with our love of performing. We have traveled to RV resorts, theatres and special events; met fascinating people; shared music and laughter with new audiences; and documented the adventures, surprises and occasional motorcoach mishaps on our YouTube channel.
Those experiences helped us realize that The Barber Bus could be much more than transportation. Our restored 1993 Newell Coach could become our home, our creative headquarters and the foundation for a truly mobile entertainment ministry and business. As we have often said, this chapter is not about slowing down. It is about leaning into creativity, service, relationships and the possibilities waiting around the next bend in the road.
Beginning in January 2027, we will no longer be taking extended trips and then returning to a permanent house. The Barber Bus will be home.
Bringing the Show Directly to Your Community
Full-time travel will give us the flexibility to develop regional routes, remain in an area longer and bring our show to communities that might otherwise be difficult to serve through traditional touring.
The centerpiece of those travels will continue to be Jim Barber & Friends, our clean, family-friendly comedy variety show featuring ventriloquism, music, celebrity impressions, audience participation and a cast of unforgettable characters—including my longtime singing sidekick, Seville.
Melonie brings her own special warmth and musical talent to the program, joining me in a show designed to entertain several generations together. It is polished enough for a professional theatre, personal enough for an intimate resort clubhouse and clean enough for families, churches and community organizations.
Audiences at previous RV resort appearances have called it “the best show we had all year” and “the best show they’ve seen in years.”
Our goal is not simply to arrive, perform and leave. We want to become part of the community for a few days—meeting the people, learning about the destination and helping create an experience guests will remember long after The Barber Bus pulls onto the highway again.
Entertainment for RV Resorts and Motorcoach Rallies
RV resort residents understand better than almost anyone that the best part of travel is often the people you meet along the way.
Our show offers resort activity directors and rally organizers an opportunity to bring residents and guests together for a shared evening of clean comedy, music and fun. It can be presented as a featured resort performance, rally headline event, guest-appreciation program, seasonal celebration or special community gathering.
Because we arrive aboard our own motorcoach, we are already immersed in the lifestyle of the audiences we entertain. We understand travel days, campground friendships, unexpected repairs, tight parking spaces and the unusual adventures that come with life on the road. That shared experience creates an immediate connection with RV and motorcoach audiences.
We also enjoy introducing viewers of The Barber Bus channel to the people, destinations and resorts we encounter. Our videos combine RV living, travel stories, resort experiences, family, faith, entertainment and behind-the-scenes moments from life as touring performers.
Clean, Encouraging Programs for Churches
Churches and faith-based organizations will also be an important part of our travels.
In addition to the complete comedy and music show, Melonie and I enjoy sharing portions of our personal story through our Blessed to Be Blended presentation. Our journey has included loss, change, healing, a pandemic wedding and the joining together of a large blended family. Through it all, we have witnessed how faith, love and encouragement can help people rebuild their lives and embrace an unexpected new beginning.
That message can be incorporated into programs for church family nights, couples’ events, senior adult gatherings, community outreach programs and other special occasions. The presentation combines music, laughter and a positive message of faith without sacrificing the professional entertainment quality audiences expect.
For churches searching for an event that is uplifting, genuinely funny and appropriate for the entire congregation, we would be honored to discuss how our program might serve your community.
A Special Attraction for Theatres and Community Venues
Theatres, performing arts presenters and community organizations can host Jim Barber & Friends as a special evening performance, afternoon matinee or featured attraction built into a regional tour.
My career has taken me from the Late Show with David Letterman and other national television programs to cruise ships, comedy clubs, corporate events, military tours, approximately 2,000 colleges and universities, and stages in every state and more than 24 countries. Since arriving in Branson in 1994, I have appeared with many of the entertainment industry’s most recognizable performers while developing a show that combines comedy, music, theatrical illusion and ventriloquism.
That experience allows us to bring venues more than an act. We understand the importance of promotion, production, hospitality, audience relationships and creating an event that reflects well on the presenter.
As our 2027 route develops, we hope to work with independent theatres, historic venues, performing arts organizations, tourism partners and community presenters that value professional, family-friendly entertainment.
Your Location Could Become a Stop on the 2027 Tour
We are now beginning to develop the route for our first year of full-time touring, and we would love to hear from:
RV resort activity directors, motorcoach and RV rally organizers, pastors and church event planners, theatre managers, performing arts presenters, community organizations and special-event producers.
When contacting us, please include your city and state, possible date range, type of venue, approximate seating capacity and the audience you hope to reach. Even when one engagement is not enough to justify a long trip by itself, it may become an important anchor date as we coordinate other appearances throughout the region.
Prospective presenters may contact us through the Contact page here at JimBarber.com or email jim@barberbiz.com. The JimBarber.com contact form is specifically available for organizations interested in booking the show.
The Adventure Is Just Beginning
Selling our home and stepping into full-time motorcoach living is not a small decision. We will be leaving behind familiar surroundings and many of the conveniences that come with a permanent address.
But we will also be gaining the freedom to go where we are invited, spend meaningful time with people across the country, remain closer to our extended family during different seasons and continue doing the work we believe we were created to do.
We are entering what we like to call the “third-third” of our lives, and we do not want to spend it merely looking back at what we have already accomplished. We want to keep learning, keep laughing, keep creating and keep encouraging others.
Beginning in January 2027, home will be wherever we park The Barber Bus.
The next community we visit could be yours—and the next stage we perform on could be yours, too.
Buckle up. We are going full-time, and the adventure is just beginning.