Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Christensen.
Hi Joseph , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started tattooing in a shop back in 2005. New years 2008 I met wife and we had our first baby Dec 2008. Got married Feb 2009 and she was pregnant again shortly after. We opened Rockin Tattoos Nov 2009. We had our 2nd child New Year’s Day 2010.
So 2009 was a busy year for me. I wasn’t exactly sure what I expected when I opened but I just wanted to provide a fun place for everyone and do nice, clean tattoos. To me, getting a tattoo isn’t just about receiving a nice tattoo, I strongly feel the experience people have will be remembered and matter more. Meaning, if ask someone that has a great tattoo where they got it and they say, there artist was rude and a jerk, I feel that defeats of getting a nice tattoo. I wanted to give people a laugh, have a good time and enjoy there experience here.
Over the years we started getting Google reviews and now in 2025, we have over 3,000 reviews with a 4.9 rating. More than any other tattoo shop in Minnesota. In the entire Midwest to be honest, Iowa, Wisconsin, and North & South Dakota.
We have become a staple of tattoo shops over the years and our clients and community have been extremely awesome.
I’m very big into giving back when I can, hosting benefits, doing giveaways, rewards, etc… I’m a huge Vikings fan so every football season I post on our social media to guess the score to win a gift card. It keeps things fun for everyone.
On Valentines 2025 I closed on a building in Faribault. My wife and I have lived outside Faribault since 2015. It’s been quite humbling and awesome to have so much support over the years and now having a second location, the Faribault community has welcomed us.
I feel like 16 years has flown by and now, our boys are 15 & 16 years old and I’m already showing them how to paint tattoo flash as they both want to be tattoo artists. I feel my life will be complete when I’m able to tattoo next to my boys and daughter someday. My daughter is still pretty young so we have a ways to go.
Our Eagan location has 9 artists and Faribault has 3 artists. Both shops are open 7 days a week and we take walk ins.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Prior to opening I was basically homeless for a few months. I had lost my apartment because I couldn’t afford it, driving over an hour to sleep at my brothers house or couch surfing, sleeping in my car until my old boss let me move in his basement. So I definitely wouldn’t say any of this has been a smooth road.
When I first opened Eagan we were doing perhaps a couple tattoos a week. Barely getting by. But as time went by, things started picking up. I was able to hire kire artists. When I first opened it was just me and another artist.
I think hosting a Breast Cancer benefit back in 2011 really got us out there. We got on the local news and if I remember right, we raised over $8k for the first one. But the publicity helped a lot.
And of course, the way we treat people when they come through our doors. I’m grateful for every person that walks through our doors and I make sure they are all treated with respect. They are the ones paying my bills and feeding my family so I’m forever grateful for every person that has been tattooed here.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As stated, I’m a tattoo artist. I don’t necessarily specialize in any particular style. I’m a walk-in street shop tattooer that does the best job I can with whatever walks through the door. I consider myself rather versatile.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think tattooing will only get bigger.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Rockintattoos.com
- Instagram: Rockintattoosmn
- Facebook: Rockintattoos
