Get Better! Records
Not-For-Profit diy record label based in Keene, NH and Greenville, SC
About
Get Better Records was founded during the summer of 2010 by Alex Lichtenauer and Nick King, with full intent to release records without making a personal profit. In the summer of of 2011 Ryan Talty and AJ Simpson joined GBR, as “co-owners”. We strive to release records that we think the world should hear. When we sell a record, 100% of the money goes back into the label, unless it is a benefit—then we pay ourselves back what the release cost, and all the rest goes to the organization/person.
contact:
Alex- 443-632-4381
Mail:
Alex Lichtenauer 33 Coolidge St Apt 2. Keene, NH 03431
AND
Ryan Talty 8 Waco St. Greenville, SC 29611
RELEASES:
GBR001- Young Mountain- The Cootie Pockets EP
GBR002- Young Mountain- Tour EP
GBR003- The Mild Revolution- Map of the World
GBR004- The Lake and the Lion- Dark Wood, Dark Water
GBR005- Young Mountain- Acoustic EP
GBR006- Young Mountain- Don’t Go Changin’ (re-press)
GBR007- Jake Lazovick/Us and Us Only- Split CASSETTE
GBR008- Among Giants- I don’t know
GBR009- Get A Better Comp!
GBR010- Galaxy Channel- Spiral Galaxy
GBR011- Young Mountain- A Billion Times Around CD
GBR012- Rubrics- Sow Your Seeds CD
GBR013- Young Mountain- A Billion Times Around LP
GBR014- Young Mountain- A Billion Times Around CASSETTE
GBR015- A Benefit for Anthony Poynter Vol. 1
GBR016- Rubrics/Criminal Culture 7” Split
GBR017- NONA/Peeple Watchin’- 7” Split
GBR018- Button Up- Strachin’ Post 7”
GBR019- Burning Bridges- S/T CD
GBR020- Burning Bridges- S/T 7”
GBR021- Count Us Out-Borders CD
GBR022- Rubrics- Crucial Fun CD
GBR023- Rubrucs- Destroy What Defines You- Book
GBR024- TRAGWAG- A Song Well Sung- CD
GBR025- A Benefit for Anthony Poynter Vol. 2- Digital
FAQ!
HOW DO YOU OPERATE?
Most importantly, we are Not-For-Profit. All of the money made, goes directly back into the label and putting out new releases. We do however pay ourselves back for the cost of production of a benefit release. We pay for most if not all of the product cost of the release. Although we believe the band should be responsible for selling some of their own records at shows etc. The band gets some records for free and can buy more off us at wholesale cost. A lot of the releases are a case by case scenario.
DO YOU ACCEPT DEMOS?
Of course. But we probably won’t release anything that comes in the mail. We like to release music by our friends, or bands with political messages and bands who are super motivated. Don’t send us an email with your bands download/website (especially not myspace). The best way to get us to release something is to come to our towns, book our bands, and do something for your local punk community.
CAN I PLAY GET BETTER! FEST?
You should email us and send some music. Last year we had so many emails even leading up to the week of the fest. I may not have written back to a lot of you last year who wrote on message boards etc.
CAN I BE ON YOUR NEWEST BENEFIT COMP?
Again, you can email us. Almost all of the bands on our comps are bands who we know personally and/or have something to do with who we are benefiting. It never hurts to send an email or demo.
WILL YOU SIGN MY BAND?
No one signs anything, ever. We aren’t corporate fuckheads. We trust you, just as much as you should trust us. This is basically the same answer as “Do you accept Demos”
YOU ARE LOCATED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTH CAROLINA?
Yes. We live in the digital age, and know how to talk on the phone. Alex lives in New Hampshire and Ryan/AJ both live in South Carolina.
WHERE CAN I FIND YOUR RELEASES?
We have distro through: Art of the Underground (Buffalo), Its Alive Records (California), Celebrated Summer Records (Baltimore), Pocket Cat! Records (Connecticut), Rad Girlfriend Records (Ohio), Kiss of Death Records (Florida), Interpunk.com, Hyper Enough Records (JAPAN), and Behind Punk Records (RUSSIA). You can also check our webstore, and see our bands at shows.
WILL YOU BOOK MY BAND IN NH/SC?
Send us a short email about yourself and some music. NH booking email: alexlichtenauer@gmail.com for SC booking email:hangargv@gmail.com
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY ORDER?
We do our best to ship it out the day after you order, but we tour a bunch so it becomes hard. If you haven’t received your order in 2 weeks, please email us at getbetterrecords@gmail.com
DO YOU SHIP OVERSEAS?
Yes we do! We have shipped orders to the UK, Japan, China, Netherlands and others.
HOW DO YOU START A LABEL?
When I started this label in the summer of 2010 I didn’t have the money I needed to, to support the label. I held a huge GBR benefit show that made $500. I gave $300 of that to the community art space that held the show (The Starving Artist). That $200 in addition to a few hundred dollars that I scrounged around for supported a lot of the releases. I also screen printing a lot and made $1,200 off one job. Benefit shows are the best idea to start a label. It gives you enough to put out a 7”, CD or Cassette. All you need is one amazing release and you are set. Internet activity is also a huge thing. Even if you hate the internet (like ryan) you have to be on there posting releases and getting your label on all the big news blogs. If you have any other questions don’t hesitate to email us at getbetterrecords@gmail.com
WHAT BANDS DO YOU PLAY IN?
Alex playing drums in Young Mountain, and in Baltimore, MD played in Wild and Crazy Kids, CRINGE, Beast Infection, and the SKAnarchists. Ryan plays guitar and sings in Rubrics, and has been in This Mountain is Man, Times Up, and tons of others.
RUMOR HAS IT THAT YOU’RE ONE OF THEM VAGANS?
Rumor is correct, we’re all vegan! Send us cupcakes!
SINCE YOU’RE NON-FOR-PROFIT, DO YOU HAVE A REAL JOBS?
Alex works a his schools salad bar/dish room/deli and is a full-time college student.
Ryan is a 4th grade teacher.
AJ is a waffle house manager.
