Where Peace of Mind is Paramount.
$995 starting price
Kansas City, Overland Park, Lawrence, and surrounding areas
Service area
DJ James
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (6X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Raise the Barr Entertainment is a time-tested, award-winning Disc Jockey and Hosting service that has specialized in Weddings in the greater Kansas City area for more than a decade. We offer hands-on coordinating, flexible and personalized music selections, elegant and quality equipment, free consultations up to the event, and even an old-school phone booth and much more!
We promise each client a personal and unique approach and value your desires and vision above all else. Let us buy you a cup of coffee and show you why we're still one of the fastest-growing DJ companies in the area.
Based in Overland Park, MO, Raise The Barr Entertainment offers expert DJ services for weddings and other special events. Couples can work closely with the team to craft a soundtrack for their day that is as unique as their love story. With multiple packages to choose from, you can personalize their services to fit your needs and budget.
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Details
Equipment
Audio/Visual Equipment
Sound Equipment
Music Genres
Bluegrass
Bollywood
Country
Dance
Disco
Folk
Hip-Hop
Indian
Jazz
Latin
Polka
Pop
R&B
Rock
Music Services
MC Services
Recorded Music
Sound Equipment
Wedding Activities
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Wedding
After Party
Ceremony
Reception
Awards and Affiliations
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Meet the team
DJ James
Owner
Hi, I'm James Barr, owner of Raise the Barr Entertainment. I live in the KC area with my lovely wife and two kids. We love calling KC home! I enjoy walking the Plaza, surprising my wife with concerts, playing volleyball, or relaxing to a good show with my Bride. We currently love Wellington Paranormal!
After almost a decade, RTB is still one of the fastest growing DJ businesses in the KC area for our personal approach and wedding experience. Let me buy you a coffee and show you why.
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.094 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
James, the DJ from Raise The Barr Entertainment, receives glowing reviews for his exceptional service and talent at weddings. Reviewers highlight his ability to keep the dance floor full, tailor music to the couple's preferences, and maintain a high level of energy throughout the event. James is commended for his professionalism, attention to detail, and friendly personality, making him a highly recommended choice for couples seeking a dedicated and skilled DJ for their special day.- Top reviews
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Peggy W
5.0
6/15/2024
Excellent music selections and Playlist. We had a great time. He's easy to talk to and plan with. I definitely would use him again if we were having a special gathering.
Dana B
5.0
10/10/2023
We couldn’t be happier with the service that James provided for my daughter’s recent wedding! He kept the dance floor filled the entire night! To me, that’s a sign of a great party! Would highly recommend James for any event!
Any questions?
Susie M
5.0
10/09/2023
James was the best! He hit every song during the ceremony right on the mark. He has a great attitude and is a true professional. Our wedding was casual Western chic and James fit right in with his cowboy hat and western jacket. We had so many compliments on "the DJ". I would not hesitate to recommend James to anyone planning their wedding.
Corey T
5.0
9/21/2023
James is amazing, VERY helpful in the planning process, met with us several times via FaceTime before the wedding to line out details, he always stuck to his commitments. He is very organized, kept the energy up all night. Professional attire and was very helpful in keeping my wife calm witch minor changes in the night.
Autumn H
5.0
8/30/2023
James was amazing to work with! He helped work out all the little details I wanted, and made sure my quest had a blast. My MOH even had a song play during her speech (which was a surprised to my husband and I) and he coordinated that with her so we had no idea!
Vendor response 08/30/2023
It was a delight! Thanks for letting me be a part.
Mallory J
5.0
6/05/2023
James really went above and beyond for our wedding! He provided us with an extremely detailed questionnaire and made sure to go through every detail fo that questionnaire with us. The reception music was perfect and had everyone on the dance floor for the entire time, which was our goal! The day would not have been nearly as successful as it was without his hard work and dedication.
Vendor response 08/30/2023
Thank you so much Mallory! I loved working with you!
Willow C
5.0
11/21/2022
We are so glad that we found James for our wedding. Since booking, he was consistently responsive and organized. On the day of, James was the best mixture of professional/fun and the music was exactly what we wanted. I would absolutely recommend his services to anyone looking for a DJ.
Vendor response 08/30/2023
Thank you Willow. What a glowing review! It was my pleasure.
Josephine D
5.0
6/10/2022
AMAZING! AMAZING!! James read the room so well, he played what we had discussed and mixed in crowd pleasers! Our wedding was a huge dance party, and James was the reason why! So thankful for how he asked us every step of the reception if we were ready and kept us up on what was next in the timeline so we didnt have to think about anything!
Vendor response 06/10/2022
This is so kind. Thank you so much for these words. The pleasure was all mine!
Nichole G
5.0
12/13/2021
James! James! James! We got married a month ago today and every time we talk to someone that was at our event, they talk about how much fun they have. I truly believe the DJ plays such an important part in this type of event. I told him I wanted a huge dance party and he did NOT disappoint! I changed a couple things in the middle of the reception (like omitting some of the dances and games) and told him "lets just dance"!!! Without asking questions... He totally went with the flow and came through strong! My husband and James it off so well too! We could not have asked for a better DJ! HIGHLY suggest to all couples.
Vendor response 12/28/2021
You guys will always be two of my faves! Thanks for the kind words.
Courtney B
5.0
11/12/2021
James was absolutely phenomenal and we can't recommend him enough! Music is something we are both very passionate about, so finding the right DJ was super important to us. We wanted someone that not only knew what they were doing, but that fit the right vibe and could set the right tone for our big night.
Enter James Barr - the only DJ we would have wanted at our wedding! James was just on it from the word go. Before we'd even booked him he had planned a faux itinerary to help us better visualize our night after we said we weren't really sure what to do when and how to make everything fit. He listened to all our ideas, answered all our questions, and took a ton of notes on what we did and didn't like. By the end of our first meeting, we could tell not only that this was our guy, but that we could easily be concert buddies with James too.
Come wedding day, when the bridal party arrived at the end of a cocktail hour, there was no mistake that James had already set the tone for the night and that everyone was relaxed, excited, and ready to celebrate! We just couldn't have asked for more.
James helped us get everything off our bus, made sure every single member of the bridal party was good to go, hyped up our guests, and really kept the night moving! He never made us feel rushed, but he kept us on track, he made sure we (the bride and groom) both ate and had something to drink, and he even delivered cupcakes to us when he realized we hadn't had any yet. All on top of making sure the sound was top-notch and the music was perfect.
He played all of our musts, avoided all of our must-not's, and even joined us on the dance floor! Our guests adored him, and people who truly do not dance got out on the dance floor to shake their tail feathers because it was too much fun to miss. We are so grateful for James. He helped make our night the perfect celebration - and we recommend him to everyone who asks!
Vendor response 11/12/2021
Concert buddies! Yes! Just say the word! Starlight is beautiful in the Spring time!
Just...
when I thought your email to me was too precious to expect in a review, you outdid your email. This review. I can’t even. It’s perfect. I could never ask to feel more valuable than you made me feel reading this. I hope to see you both real soon.
Josh B
5.0
10/31/2021
I can't recommend James enough. He is vivacious and gregarious and pays attention to every detail. Our guests and family all loved him, and he provided a top-notch soundtrack for our wedding. On top of being a wonderful DJ, we also hired him for his wedding coordinator services, and he did not disappoint. He was on top of everything and helped manage our other vendors while doing what he could for my wife and I during our day.
Vendor response 11/05/2021
Vivacious & Gregarious! What a great review! Thank you guys. It was my pleasure.
Bonnie L
5.0
9/19/2021
James was such an awesome asset to our wedding day. I can’t begin to describe how much we loved him DJ-ing our big day. I chose James because he was professional, classy, and responsible, while at the same time being out going and extroverted! He was a pleasure to work with. He helped me with our day of wedding timeline, worked with the limo driver and came out to greet us as we arrived at the reception. He did an amazing job announcing the wedding party and he kept the party going as we moved effortlessly from toasts to dinner to dancing! I got so many compliments from both my young friends who loved the party as well as my grandparents who loved how he MC’d! I highly recommend James!!! He is so affordable as well and worth so much more!
Vendor response 09/19/2021
Bonnie! This review is incredible! Thank you so much for the kind words. It was my honor.
Karsen B
5.0
9/15/2021
I would recommend Raise The Barr Entertainment 100 times over! We chose this company for DJing our wedding reception based on the glowing reviews on The Knot, and James definitely lived up to the hype. We had a general idea of the music genres we wanted, but were unsure on the specifics. With James helpful recommendations, we were able to solidify our choices and he carefully selected songs to curate the perfect selection for our event! So thankful for his expert opinion and professional, fun, & upbeat performance at our reception. Pick Raise the Barr Entertainment for your next event, you will be beyond grateful that you did!
Vendor response 09/16/2021
Thank you for the kind words, Karsen. It was my honor.
Miranda N
5.0
9/03/2021
Wow, James with Raise the Barr Entertainment is awesome! Our wedding guests are not dancers so we gave James quite the challenge but he made it a super fun night we will fondly remember. His expertise ensured our wedding ceremony and reception was timely and went smoothly. He even retaught myself and our nieces the chicken dance :)
Vendor response 09/03/2021
This was such a nice surprise. Thank you for the kind words. I had such a blast working wi...
th you and dancing with your guests.
Vicky T
5.0
8/11/2021
We had to find a new DJ less than a month before our wedding and we took a chance with Raise the Barr. It was such a great decision and he was a great DJ!! He worked with us on all of the little details we wanted for our wedding. He did a great job keeping the music going ... even with an older crowd that didn't always dance. He was energetic and very wonderful to work with. I would highly recommend him.
Vendor response 08/11/2021
Thanks Vicky! You were a joy.
Lisa R
5.0
5/29/2021
I found James Barr online as I was searching for a DJ for a neighborhood, end of school year party and I’m so glad I found him! James’ communication prior to the event was great and his response time is always timely, which was important for me as I worked to plan this event.
The day of the event, James showed up timely and well organized, but the best was his DJ’ing and interaction with the crowd! Being a neighborhood event, there were a bunch of kids and he was beyond interactive with them! He played music that appealed to both the kids and adults alike and he was the life of our party!
The day after the event, I had several neighbors comment about how awesome the DJ was and their plans to use him for future events. Overall, I would highly recommend James for any event and I really hope to use him again in the future!
Vendor response 05/29/2021
Thank you Lisa! Your event was beyond fun, and it was my honor to knock it out of the park...
for you. I can’t wait to come back!
Alex G
5.0
5/22/2021
We absolutely loved having James for our DJ! He provided great advice for song choices and scheduling. He is friendly, knowledgeable, and energetic. I would highly recommend James to anyone looking for a DJ!
Katie K
5.0
5/12/2021
James was amazing! I can't tell you how many people have come up to me after the wedding and complimented him! He helped us with everything from the timeline of the day, to picking songs for different parts of the ceremony, to even making sure our drinks were full! He kept the dance floor full all night! Callan and I were so thankful to have him as part of our big day!
Vendor response 05/12/2021
Not only was this couple super fun, their parents were kind, and their guests were a blast...
! When everyone is there to just enjoy each other, it makes my job easy. Thank you for the kind words and I hope to see you both again down the road!
Chris F
5.0
4/12/2021
James is incredible! We would give him a 10 star review if possible. He coordinated our day so well. He made sure we were happy and stress free. He fit in with our crowd so well. All through our planning process, he made sure to answer all questions. We got tons of great suggestions from him that we used. He has so much knowledge and experience. James strives to make sure he pleases the bride and groom. He brought life to our reception when needed. I cannot say enough good things about him. You will NOT regret using James.
Vendor response 04/12/2021
Chris, thank you! You and Cassi (& friends) were a dream! I cannot tell you enough what a ...
blessing your words are. I wish all my clients were as wonderful to work with as the two of you. Thanks!
Ashton L
1.0
3/24/2021
My husband and I just expected more. The wedding would have flowed waayy more smoothly if we'd just had our friends help. Unfortunately he had no idea what was going on and wasn't direct enough to get things done. We had to start our wedding late because he couldn't figure out the order, when everyone was already in order from the rehearsal. He was horrible at going with the flow when plans changed so we could eat earlier. There just wasn't a ton of confidence to allow for smooth transitions during the day. The dj services were okay but he was told to play a game, my husband and I left to take pictures and when we returned everyone had left. So we didn't get to say goodbye to the majority of our guests. My matron of honor suggested just starting the dance floor; to read the room, and he refused because he wanted to stick with the plan rather than doing what was best for the evening. James is a SUPER nice guy, maybe wedding planning is just not his forte.
Vendor response 03/31/2021
This is an unfortunate case of the impossible to please Bride. As the DJ and Coordinator, ...
I made the timeline, coordinated with other vendors, and of course created all the playlists for the evening. When a Bride is not present, changes things on the fly, and expects me to change plans, she might not be happy with the result. She was very meticulous in prep, and then changed many things the day of. I always double check line ups... and they were NOT as we planned, as she claims. And I don’t start the dance party before the first dances, unless told by the client directly. But they were still outside. I’m a wedding DJ, not a club DJ. I will honor the important moments and order to my clients.
Against my warning, the couple left toward the end of dinner for an extra 30min photo session. And THAT is why half the guests left. If “sticking to the plan” is an insult, then I’m sorry. I will not deviate from a plan based on a bridesmaids request, who DID NOT ask the bride beforehand. And hopefully the rest of my reviews showcase how I honor my clients wishes above the guests as well. If that ends up poorly, and against my suggestions, so be it.
I trust new clients will read my other reviews and determine that this is a nonsensical outlier. It’s just a shame there are people out there like this who are impossible to please, and yet, enjoy damaging others’ professional reputations when those uncommunicated expectations aren’t met to a T.
I am more than willing to explain this to a new client if any of this concerns them. It shouldn’t. It’s riddled with falsehood.
Mallory C
5.0
2/06/2021
James was an amazing DJ for our wedding and reception. He communicated well and was very organized throughout the planning process. We had live music during our ceremony, and he provided all the microphones we needed and connected them to the venue's sound system. The reception was amazing! He played every song we requested, kept things moving throughout the night, and his personality kept our guests engaged. Everyone had a great time dancing. It was more fun than we even imagined it would be. We highly recommend hiring James.
Vendor response 03/30/2021
This is so kind. Thank you. You were wonderful to work with as well!
Shelly S
5.0
1/10/2021
We hired James Barr, owner of Raise the Barr, as the DJ for my daughter's wedding reception. He went above and beyond to make the celebration a huge success. James spent several hours discussing the bride and groom's wishes in advance. He had every one of their songs ready. He understood their ideas and lead the reception perfectly. Rather last minute, we asked James to coordinate the sound for the wedding ceremony as well. We had a pastor and several live musicians who needed mics. James arrived early and managed the hotel's sound system and his own equipment professionally. Many guests commented on what a wonderful DJ he was. The photographer also told us that James is always great to work with. I highly recommend Raise the Barr.
Vendor response 03/30/2021
What a detailed and flattering review. Thank you so much. I'm so pleased you had such a gr...
eat time!
Megan D
5.0
10/08/2020
James was very professional and accommodating to our ALL of our needs! He made sure everything was perfect the day of and if there was anything he could do to make anything less stressful he was on top of it! He genuinely cares. Not to mention I replanned my whole wedding and he made sure to make it work for us! James made a very detailed timeline of the day and it made the whole night go super smoothly. All my guests raved about how great the music was and how wonderful James did! ( I agree!!) He did everything we asked and more! Cant thank you enough for being apart of our day! I would highly recommend Raise the Barr for any future Brides!
Vendor response 10/10/2020
Thanks Megan. The pleasure was all mine. I thoroughly enjoyed working with you both. Many ...
blessings on your future together.
Tara B
5.0
9/21/2020
James did a great job helping with our rehearsal dinner and DJing our wedding. Whether in person or over FaceTime, James made the planning process easy. We provided a few of our favorite artists and he made great playlists for each element of our day. He put together a great playlist for the reception as well, starting with some oldies and building up to current music. The party never stopped and everyone had a blast! We highly recommend Raise the Barr.
Vendor response 09/21/2020
Thanks so much Tara! The pleasure was all mine.
Ashton M
5.0
8/08/2020
James was great to work with from beginning to end! The first time we met with James we knew he was the guy for us. He is very detailed in his work and even helped plan our timeline. He provides good suggestions and is extremely flexible. We threw a few changes at him the day of the wedding, and he was easily able to adjust. We used James for our ceremony and reception music and going into the reception I was extremely nervous for the music and making sure that everything was perfect. I brought this up to James and he did nothing short of making sure everything was just as I envisioned. His communication is great and really does play all the best music!! Would highly recommend James for any occasion!
Vendor response 08/08/2020
Oh my goodness!! I completely forgot what it was like to get reviews. It’s been so long be...
cause of corona. What a nice surprise! Ashton, you were a dream and I’m so glad you felt I did such a good job. These reactions are the reason I do what I do and fuel to keep going. So thank you so much for the kind words.
Ella P
5.0
12/29/2019
JAMES! Holy moly. What a fantastic human being. From our first meet with James we knew that he was the right person for the job. He kept the reception moving, incorporated song requests even when I sent them SUPER last minute (seriously, you rock), I have never laughed so hard due to some of the Shoe questions that were asked, and the cherry on top of all of this is that James LITERALLY saved and released a hawk that was in our reception venue. He is so responsive to e-mails and made the entire process a total dream. THIS IS YOUR SIGN, James is the ultimate choice!
Vendor response 01/04/2020
Wow. This is one of the best reviews ever! Thank you so much. I'll never forget the weddin...
g I caught a hawk.
Jeannie S
5.0
11/13/2019
James did a fantastic job at our son's wedding! The set up was flawless, and he was incredibly flexible and was able to make the night flow so smoothly. Professional yet fun! It was an awesome night!
Vendor response 03/30/2021
Concise and awesome! Thank you!
KayLa M
5.0
10/18/2019
James was FANTASTIC at our wedding this past weekend. I was planning from a distance and he was super accommodating by doing our meetings over the phone. He asked lots of great questions (things I hadn't even thought of!) and I felt totally confident going into the day that he had everything handled. He helped with our ceremony mics as well! He coordinated with our string ensemble to smoothly transition during our cocktail hour and really kept us moving for the reception. He really helped make our day perfect. We highly recommend him for any event!!
Vendor response 03/30/2021
Thank you Kayla. It was my honor.
Brittany H
5.0
10/15/2019
James was AMAZING! He brought the party and helped the whole night flow so well. He has great ideas and helped our vision come to life. Great to work with!
Vendor response 03/30/2021
Thank Brittany. You were also wonderful to work with.
Des S
5.0
10/15/2019
10/10. I don’t even know where to start. James has a charisma and talent that can break through ice, get people laughing, and even make church people dance. His entertainment ideas made our night exactly what we wanted it to be: FUN. Everyone loved his hilarious guest scavenger hunt; it set the tone for the entire evening. I can not recommend Raise the Barr enough. He took all our wishes and formed them together to create an unforgettable evening.
Vendor response 10/15/2019
This is so kind. And I love the word charisma! Thank you.
Spencer C
5.0
10/07/2019
To put this simply, James was absolutely amazing and well worth the cost to book him for our wedding.
Do you need someone flexible? James.
Do you need someone who can entertain your guests with humor, games, kickass playlists, and have that "Hollywood" smile? James.
Do you want someone who will go above and beyond to help create an atmosphere that exudes fun? James.
I have no doubt that there are great DJ's across KC with varying costs for booking, but if I held another event that needed a DJ I would book James without hesitation.
Vendor response 10/07/2019
This is unique, specific, and wonderful! So flattering. Thank you.
Alex L
5.0
9/29/2019
I would highly recommend Raise the Barr Entertainment to anyone looking for a phenomenal DJ! James really goes above and beyond to make sure that your big day is perfect! I appreciated the time he took to get to know us and what was important to us on our wedding day. His attention to detail ensured that our reception stayed on schedule and we were able to spend the majority of the time celebrating with our guests! James kept the dance floor full and he did a wonderful job combining our requests with his expertise! We are so grateful to James for helping to make our wedding perfect!
Vendor response 09/29/2019
Wow! What a comprehensive compliment! Thank you so much for the kind words and for sharing...
so many things you appreciated.
Dan H
5.0
9/26/2019
James was a pleasure to work with. At our pre-meeting I couldn't believe how we'd say something vague like "I kind of want some 'happy' music" and then he could turn that into specific song suggestions! That helped a ton. Also, on the day of the wedding he wasn't just there to play music - he kept us on schedule, kept everyone engaged and even pulled off a game we requested and our guests loved it! He did all this professionally and enthusiastically. Fantastic energy and I'd definitely recommend him to others.
Vendor response 09/27/2019
Dan, I appreciated the opportunity to work with you all. I had such a great time being you...
r DJ! Everything was wonderful and everyone was so kind. Thank you most of all for choosing RTB!
Sloane M
5.0
9/25/2019
We so enjoyed working with James! In our first meeting, he was so helpful with suggestions and helped with the timeline of the whole reception. We gave him suggestions of what we wanted and he nailed it! We got multiple comments on how great he was and I would most definitely recommend him. WORK WITH JAMES!
Vendor response 09/25/2019
Thank you so very much for the kind words.
Brooke G
5.0
9/09/2019
James absolutely KILLED it this past weekend at my wedding! He is so organized, knows exactly the right flow of things, and got the dance party going the entire night. If you want someone who you can rely on, James is your guy! He even asked our opinion on things throughout the night which I really appreciated. thanks for being SO awesome!
Vendor response 09/09/2019
It was my honor. And you were all so much fun! That always helps make my night. Thank you ...
for the kind words.
Sally T
5.0
7/25/2019
I am in the wedding industry as a planner so I have worked with James a couple of times. But this time I was the Mother of the Bride. James was great! He knew the questions to ask of the bride and groom to ensure they had a personalized experience. The dance floor was full the entire night and all the events of the evening were accomplished without a hitch. James is a great MC of the evening. The dance floor was still full at last call and people did not want to leave. To me that is the mark of a great party! James is my first recommendation for anyone needing a DJ!
Vendor response 07/26/2019
Thanks Sally. You’re a joy.
Erin M
5.0
7/25/2019
I was in love with the music at my reception! My family loves to dance and the music makes or breaks a party and man the music made my reception perfect! We had people dancing from the very beginning to the very end. James did a wonderful job and my husband and I couldn't have been more happy. We will recommend you for everything. Thank you so much for making our day that much more special.
Vendor response 03/30/2021
Thank you! I'm honored to have made such an impact.
Codie P
5.0
7/03/2019
James was INCREDIBLE! From the very first meeting to the day of the event. He was very attentive to everything we wanted. Our first time meeting him we instantly felt at ease, like he had everything under control and would help our wedding be a fun success. It was very important to us that the reception was filled with music we loved, moved along at a good pace, and had an easy going fun vibe. James absolutely helped to create this at our wedding. He was able to “guide the show” so to speak, without being overly “showy” like I have experience at other weddings. Everyone commented on how wonderful he was, how great the music was, and how he was probably one of the best DJ’s they had seen at a wedding. He really matched the vibe of my Husband and I, our wedding vision, and then delivered.
What I appreciated most about him was that he was so attentive to details, and so incredibly respectful. Both of my parents had passed away and I wanted to do dances to honor each of them. During all the prep, he made sure to clarify how I wanted things communicated, what the flow was, the songs, so that he was fully prepared to provide what I wanted in the way I wanted. I thought this was simply amazing. He took care of both our ceremony through until the end of the reception and made the day so easy and fun. Truly, one of the best DJ’s out there, in every way!
Vendor response 07/03/2019
Codie, thank you so much! I am floored by your kind words. You and all your guests were a ...
joy to work with. Many blessings on you both as you journey together.
Ryan J
5.0
6/17/2019
James was so easy and fun to work with. From ceremony to cocktail to reception, he made everything flow so well. Our guests loved how he kept everyone entertained and having a great time. He is so willing to work with any budget and make sure you have exactly what you want. Down to earth and very cool guy! Best vendor at our wedding by far.
Vendor response 06/17/2019
This is fantastic! Thank you so much, Ryan. What a flattering read. You and your guests we...
re a blast and very nice... not to mention great taste in music!
Cassidy W
5.0
6/03/2019
James did such a good job!! He is very detailed and knew all the right questions to ask to make sure the day was perfect. He was professional, punctual, and fun. James made such a good addition to our special day. Highly recommend.
Vendor response 06/03/2019
Thank for the kind words Cassidy! You and all your guests were so respectful and fun!
Sasha M
5.0
12/18/2018
James had our dance floor PACKED! We put a lot of trust in him... the theme to choosing all of our vendors, was "not our day jobs, but it is theirs" and let's just say James is GREAT at his job! He is very detailed-oriented in communication prior to the event, even taking time out of family vacation to let us know he'd respond as soon as he was home! All of the planning and attention to details made for an easy evening for us. MULTIPLE people have told us it's the most packed they've ever seen a dance floor. My husband (still fun to say!) and I made an effort to stay on the dance floor so others would, but James made us want to be there. From Motown to Pop to Country to Y2Ks, he has it down. Thanks, James, for making our evening so memorable. PS - He even has the K-State fight song ready to roll. Happy planning everyone!
Vendor response 12/18/2018
This is such a blessing to read. Thank you so much for the kind words. It was my honor!
Y S
5.0
10/28/2018
James was awesome from the first initial meeting and all the way through our wedding day. He responded quickly to all of our communications and was easy to work with. We had some very specific music needs for our wedding and he did an awesome job incorporating our own playlists with the typical popular stuff. Ultimately we told him our primary goal was to make sure people were having a great time on the dance floor and he did just that. James was professional the entire evening and did a great job. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to any of our family and friends.
Vendor response 10/28/2018
These reviews warm my heart every time. Thank you for the kind words.
Ronda B
3.0
10/16/2018
James was great to respond to any questions, emails and meeting requests that we sent. He gave us a fair price and we appreciated how he addressed every concern that we had. On the day of the wedding, he arrived right when he said he would and got set up in plenty of time. He was always very prompt and arrived to everything when he said he would. In the end, there were a few things that happened on the wedding day that shouldn't have... James addressed the crowd in the microphone and asked if we had people serving dinner or if they should be released for dinner. That's something that James probably should have known and not made a guess at while speaking into the microphone. We had a coordinator who probably gave him that information and I'm pretty certain we'd discussed it at past meetings. My husband and I selected all of our own music for the ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner and we gave James quite a few good ideas of what to play during the reception. He didn't need to be super engaged during the reception since the play list was already created, I understand that. But, guests told me that he was watching a soccer match on his phone throughout the majority of the reception. Overall, we very much appreciate James for being a part of our day, but there were a couple of less-than-perfect things I thought I should share.
Vendor response 10/16/2018
I appreciate the thoughts. The coordinator did not tell me about dismissal. Although it is...
a minor detail, I try not to miss any. I may have forgotten this one. For that I’m sorry. It is true I had a Sporting match on my phone. I don’t believe I was inattentive or not engaging. There are large gaps of time between my announcements and clearly this was a wedding I was asked to be careful to only announce what I was asked and “not be super engaging” as you put it. I was watching the match to pass the time. It definitely was not the entire Reception, but I appologize if that felt like I wasn’t present. That was not to case, but I understand the perception. I don’t make a habit of this. I am glad you were pleased overall and I will take these thoughts to heart. All the best to you both and thank you for your honesty.
Samantha H
5.0
10/03/2018
James absolutely went above and beyond for us and our wedding! He helped pour champagne and he made sure i was happy no matter what. We didn’t have a whole lot of people who danced BUT he made sure that the bride and groom had the best day of their lives. And we did! The photo booth was an awesome incentive to get extra pictures and our whole photo book is filled with amazing memories that no one would have captured had it not been for the that (even though there is about 20 of just our daughter lol) We wouldn’t change any detail of our wedding day for anything. It was completely perfect and James absolutely took the cake when it came to being our DJ. He was phenomenal and made our special day even better! And he’s an awesome friend to have and if we ever have another big event come up we will definitely be using him as our DJ and anyone who needs a DJ, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND James and Raise the Barr entertainment.
Also he’s pretty good at picking songs for karaoke and has a really nice voice if y’all need him to sing!
Love Jeff & Samantha Hefley
Vendor response 08/29/2019
You guys are the best! What wonderful words. Thank you.
Cole N
5.0
9/09/2018
James was AMAZING. He made our day run smoothly and it went perfectly.
We gave James a list of a few songs and gave him free range on the dinner mix and dance party mix. He KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK.
We now consider James a good friend for the hard work and pride he takes in his art and that he is so easy to talk to.
He knows what he his doing.
I would book James NOW for your event before he gets booked up. This guy is the real deal!
Thank You James for being there every step of the way.
Keep being you!
Thank you!!
Eden T
5.0
9/06/2018
My 50th birthday party was more like a 21st. Is 50 the new 21? It is if James Barr is at your party!
I can't wait to have James back for our next occasion! We are already dreaming up an excuse for another party, but really who needs an excuse for fun?! James Barr is professional from email number one to the last song of the night and of course, super fun and talented! I can't imagine a better person to have providing music and energy to your special night!
Kelsey G
5.0
9/03/2018
Raise the Barr went far above and beyond our expectations of what any wedding DJ could have done or been. Not only did James help us pick the best music to make our wedding magical and original, he also helped plan and organize the ceremony and reception in Telluride, CO. We are a couple who had to plan our own wedding and without James, being as amazing as he is, we would have been able to be as relaxed as we were on the wedding day because we knew he was taking care of everything. Words cannot explain how appreciative we are to have had someone like James (Raise the Barr) DJ and help organize/plan our wedding! YOU'RE LITERALLY THE BEST!
Alyssa V
5.0
9/03/2018
James was INCREDIBLE! He was responsive to all of our needs, questions, and concerns throughout the whole process. He mixed up song selections in the most amazing way and was so great about following our wishes! We could not have asked for a better DJ.
Lacey K
5.0
9/03/2018
James is seriously wonderful! He kept our party going and was so accommodating to all of our needs including going back and forth between two huge barns! He MCd the whole time and kept us and our guests informed and on schedule. He even came out to the limo to check on me right before the ceremony started. On top of being so amazing he is very affordable! I don’t have one negative thing to say about him and we are so happy we found him!
Allison P
5.0
8/03/2018
James was AWESOME to work with!! We were really worried about not having a wedding planner or coordinator, so we really needed guidance when we were planning out the timeline for the night. James spent hours on the phone with us planning for every single detail. We told him the types of music our crowd would enjoy and he kept people on the floor all night. We have a very specific tradition (the Wedding March) and not only did he execute it perfectly, but he got videos of the event! If you need someone to act as an MC to direct your guests, James is your guy. All in all, if you are picky about your DJ, go with Raise the Barr!!
Vendor response 08/03/2018
So kind Allison. Thank you for the wonderful words. Many blessings on your lives together.
McKenna O
5.0
6/19/2018
James was absolutely amazing to work with. From the first meeting when we met he was on top of all wedding details from songs, to how to pronounce us as a married couple, to what he should wear to not clash with the wedding party. He was fun to work with, very outgoing and made our wedding day run smoothly. Any time I had a question or song change, James responded to my email within an hour of it being sent. The day of the wedding, James came up with our timeline and made sure everything was on time and that the other vendors were doing what they needed to at the correct times. We did not have a wedding planner so having James guide the night and other vendors was extremely helpful. At the end of the night, our wedding venue informed us that James was the best DJ they had had in a very long time. He played a wide variety of music and even took song suggestions. We had guests of all ages dancing the night away. I have gone to many weddings where guests quit dancing around 30/45 minutes before the end of the night and that was not the case for ours. James had all guests dancing until the very end of the night and people were even sad they had to quit dancing. I would STRONGLY suggest James as a DJ for weddings and cooperate events. He is truly amazing and so much fun to be around and work with!
Kristyn K
5.0
5/03/2018
We absolutely loved working with James! He made our wedding reception go off without a hitch and kept everything moving along! He was able to read the crowd (more than the groom and I ever could) and made our celebration even more amazing! Highly, highly recommend him to anyone who is getting married! Thank you so much for everything you did for us!
Emma H
5.0
4/29/2018
James was absolutely amazing. My husband and I had only a shaky tenative plan for our KS wedding reception (the main one out of state), and coming off our wedding and IN reception we were pretty exhausted and ended up changing around our event like 5 times, but James was a great sport and helped a lot. He even read the main part of our unity candle ceremony with no prior notice or practice. i would absolutely recommend him to anyone—If he could handle our rather thrown together reception, he can handle any reception. He was very friendly and professional throughout.
Rachel V
5.0
2/10/2018
James is a great host and ran our reception perfectly. He was flexible throughout the entire night. He helped us provide karaoke for our guests, which they loved, and even sang with some of our guests! I was lucky to find him!
Breanna B
5.0
1/19/2018
James was awesome! We hired him to DJ at our NYE wedding. He was always willing to work with us on our needs and wants when it came to a wedding DJ. He kept the party going and everyone having a great time! Cannot say enough, I would recommend him to anyone!
Stephanie K
5.0
1/08/2018
James was Great! His responsiveness and customer service was second to none. He is extremely personable and was willing to alter the way he does business to make sure our party was THE BEST. Our party was for our business in our home for over 100 people. We wanted great music and karaoke. He provided excellent entertainment for everyone! He knew what songs to play because he asked appropriate questions prior to the event and followed up repeatedly right up until the event. He knows how to run an excellent business catered to what the client wants. He is listening! The whole next week we were told how much fun everyone had and that would not have happened without James being so awesome. Thank you, James!
Sarah F
5.0
12/18/2017
James, the owner of Raising the Barr, was an amazing DJ, MC, entertainer, and host. He was organized and responsive. We loved his ideas and the game he played at the reception.
Mara P
5.0
12/11/2017
“James is incredible. He made our wedding day run so smoothly and went above and beyond. We had the best time and he kept everyone on the dance floor for the whole night. He accommodated my extremely picky and eclectic tastes in music—he is a true professional and knows what he is doing. I would wholeheartedly recommend James to anyone!“
Alex S
5.0
11/27/2017
In a day full of highlights, James was absolutely no exception. James was unbelievably responsive, enthusiastic, and an absolute pleasure to work with. We were lucky with all of our vendors, but James stood out among all of them. We couldn't be happier with the service provided, and we absolutely give James our highest recommendation. James went above and beyond to accommodate all of our requests, and even went outside of his normal comfort zone to give us everything we wanted. He was willing to do whatever it took to give us the best ceremony/reception possible, and he was 100% successful in doing just that. We can't say enough good things about James!
Emerald A
5.0
11/05/2017
James is the BEST! He did an amazing job at our wedding. All of our guests could not stop talking about how great he was. Hands down the best DJ!
Jordan T
5.0
10/29/2017
James was AWESOME!! The whole reason our ceremony went so smoothly was because of him! Our vows were misplaced so during the awkward 5 minutes it took to find them he jumped right in and started playing music AND even ran to go help look for them!! All of our guests couldn't stop talking about how fun our reception was because of the games he played and his music selection was PERFECT! He made sure to play songs that everyone liked and could dance to! We could not have asked for a better DJ!! Plus the photo booth he brought was a huge hit! We HIGHLY recommend him!! We've been to a lot of weddings and events and in our opinion, there is not a better DJ in the KC area!! Thank you James for helping make our day so perfect!!
Carissa H
5.0
10/23/2017
JAMES IS AMAZING!!!! He is super responsive to your emails, he is very professional and is an expert at what he does. If you truly want a host for your wedding, which is exactly how it should go, Raise The Barr Entertainment is your guy. We wanted to try out a fun game we saw at a wedding expo and he was all for it, did some research, and executed it beautifully! He had an entire room of 200 people engaged, laughing, and having the time of their lives. There were so many unique ideas I had and he went along with it all while adding his twist and suggestions to be sure it went seamlessly (and it did). We had the wedding of our dreams thanks to James and we will be forever grateful to him. We love him to pieces and are also thankful to call him a friend! Thank you for everything James, you are amazing!!!!
Katrina R
5.0
10/16/2017
James is not only a dj, but is a wonderful host and MC. He made my best friends wedding such a blast and exeeded all of their expectations! Highly recommend!
Jacqueline G
5.0
9/24/2017
We cannot say enough amazing things about James! He made our dreams come true last night from the ceremony to the reception!! Highly recommending for any event! Thank you!
Angela S
5.0
8/30/2017
James was wonderful. We were so blessed to have him be a part of our event. I would definitely recommend him to anyone!
Haleigh E
5.0
8/21/2017
James was great, and all of our guests didn't leave the dance floor because they were having such a great time!
Tiffany P
5.0
8/20/2017
James was a great DJ for our spring wedding. He was attentive and super excited to work with our music choice- even though it was different from the average KS wedding. Would definitely recommend to any couple-to-be.
Lisa G
5.0
8/09/2017
Short and sweet: James not only met my expectations but exceeded them. Communication was timely and mostly why we decided to go with Raise the Barr. He was responsive and genuine. He knows what he's doing and his uplight placing is spot on. I have a habit of being late but James kept us on a timely schedule and made us look like we knew what we were doing in the midst of wedding chaos. Full impact James made: We had a close friend booked originally as our DJ, we lost him to an accident two yrs ago. After that tragedy it was very hard to be optimistic looking for a replacement. I had a guy in mind after going to a friend's wedding but communication was an issue. In the time I was deciding James responded a handful of times within a couple hours and the other guy hadn't even replied. Almost instantly I knew his passion for what he does. And if you're on the fence don't be he's a natural. We went with mostly rock music, he balanced it with other genres, and made everything go smoothly. From our entrance to our last songs played, Raise the Barr kept me (the bride) mostly on the dance floor, my bridesmaids and I were all sore the next day, and he even joined in on the dancing late in the night. :) He was better than I could have imagined for our big day, words just can't express how outstanding James is. We were truly blessed to have him as our DJ.
Emilie G
5.0
7/22/2017
"James was so easy to work with and my guests had so much fun! I gave minimal direction and request but James knew exactely how to please the crowd. Highly recommend and would definitely hire again!"
Jessica E
5.0
7/18/2017
JAMES IS THE BEST. We met with a handful of possible DJs until we met James and we booked him on the spot upon our first meeting. James is approachable and so easy to work with! Unlike some DJs that cap out on the list of songs you request, James truly let’s you run the show (I mean…it is OUR day). All of this while providing his professional and non-intrusive suggestions along the way. Being type-A, it was hard for me to let go of the reins and hand it over (to ANYONE) but James made the process extremely comfortable. Leading up to the day, we put together our playlists and a week or two before, James provided us with a timeline, working hand-in-hand with us, our wedding coordinator, and caterer. So much planning is involved in weddings and the DJ executes the entirety of it so you need to pick someone who you trust will do a good job, keep calm when your guests bombard with song requests (sorry about that again haha) and make the night run smoothly. We got SO MANY compliments on James’ demeanor, song transitions and basically MCing the entire night. All our names were pronounced correctly (you would not believe how many names I’ve heard butchered in past weddings…so embarrassing for the wedding party). We had quite a few requests and James took care of all of it! HE IS THE MAN! Do not even consider anyone else. He has an impeccable sense for detail, even thinking to match his attire with our groomsmen! He fit in perfectly and it felt like it was just a great friend DJing for the night! After the ceremony, the bridal party left to do pictures and we trusted James to keep our guests who were waiting for us entertained and ready to party for when we arrived. When the bridal party got to the reception, you could feel the amazing, positive energy that James created for our guests. James, if you read this, thank you so much for everything you did for us throughout our engagement. Your expertise, attention to detail and smile got us through one of the most stressful moments of our lives and we are forever grateful for you.
Vendor response 08/02/2017
Wow! This is amazing! You and your guests were such a joy. You made my job easy. Thank you...
so much for the kind words and the details of how I work. I think this is the most informative review I've every had. I'm sure it will continue to bless me over and over as new clients read it time and again. Thanks again and all the best to you both in your lives together. Perhaps we'll meet again.
Jessica S
5.0
7/09/2017
James from Raise the Barr is an excellent DJ! He came with a smile and left with a smile. When people were reluctant to dance he kindly convinced them that it was the right thing to do! Prior to the event James was responsive to emails and eager to make our wedding everything we wanted it to be. James helped our ceremony and reception run as smooth as it could! Everyone loved the photo booth because of how fun it was and easy to work. Consider him for your wedding or event!
Jane G
5.0
6/18/2017
James did an outstanding job DJ'ing our daughter's wedding. He is a consummate professional and added so much to the ceremony and festivities afterward. He is obviously experienced at weddings and had great recommendations on timing and presentation and music selection. He has great equipment and just nailed the whole thing. I would heartily recommend him for your event!
Gordon G
5.0
6/18/2017
James did an outstanding job DJ'ing my daughter's wedding. He is a consummate professional and added so much to the ceremony and festivities afterward. He is obviously experienced at weddings and had great recommendations on timing and presentation and music selection . He has great equipment and just nailed the whole thing. I would heartily recommend him!
Kristin D
5.0
6/08/2017
All my guests loved him. He was flexible and made my reception a success.
C B
5.0