5 trade secrets revealed by the Chippendales

Being a Chippendale is no easy task.

The job calls for more than just being able to strip and gyrate in time to thumping beats.

All of the 250 Chippendales who’ve made the cut in the past 30 years have had to overcome the massive cheese factor on a nightly basis, don the laughable cuff-and-collar outfits and execute flawless hip gyrations whether dressed as Tarzan, a dusty cowboy or in all-white Backstreet Boy ensemble, all this with a straight face.

In town to perform their Most Wanted Tour from February 23-26 at the Resorts World Sentosa, Chippendales Kevin Cornell, 39, David Abrams, 39 and Kris Davis, 33 share what it takes to become one, and why the job calls for much more than a set of ripped abs and a pair of pumped guns.

• More on CNNGo: Chippendales in Singapore will be flirty but tasteful

Careful there, you don't want to end up with a tube top.

1. Being able to rip a shirt

“It’s about symmetry -- if you rip it wrong, you'd end up with a vest-looking shred of cloth -- or worse, a tube top,” says Abrams. “We should know, the Chippendales go through over 500,000 shirts a year.”

Here’s a tip we learnt: the flimsy white singlets they pull apart and throw to the audience come prepped with the tiniest of cuts around the neckline. And the collared shirts open with ease as a result of special clip-on buttons.

2. Keeping an eight count

"Five, six, seven, eight, and strip!"

Timing is everything and while no one goes to see the Chippendales for their dazzling dance sequences, rhythm and timing is necessary when tasked with removing a pair of chaps, a g-string and a cowboy hat, all without offending Singapore’s censorship board.

3. Dealing with the crazies and schoolboy pranks

As the boys put it, “Crazy went out the window a long time ago.”

Aside from dealing with women who’ve climbed up the fire escape of a hotel to get into their rooms, put a group of men together on the road for 10 months a year and practical jokes will occur.

“I have a Tarzan scene where I'm dressed in a towel in the shower and once, when we were performing in South Africa, the boys decided to put an albino python in the shower,” says Cornell.

“So there I was, in the shower with a snake freaking out and the audience had no idea, they probably thought we had animals in the show!”

These Chippendales know how to grab it with meaning.

4. Doing an MJ

In the world of the Chippendales it is not rude to be caught fondling the crown jewels. It's an essential part of the show and one that’s embraced with gusto.

When in doubt, follow Davis’ advice to just “grab it girl!”

The tea pot: It's all part of the Chippendales' dance routine.

5. Executing the teapot and other odd moves

A trademark fashion model pose, the Chippendales add a little special something to their version of a teapot -- think more crane than elegant swan -- in a bid to inject comic value to their cheese-filled revue.

There are other odd moves such as sliding across the stage on one’s knees –- knee guards are donned for this -– the artful removal of gloves Dita Von Teese style and plenty of signing one’s name with their bum.

And yes, if you must know, all the thrusting and gyrating does come in handy.

“It's a lot of hard work, keeping in shape, learning the dance routines, but yes, I'm phenomenal in the bedroom,” says Davis.

When not on the search for the perfect beach, Singapore native Charlene Fang has spent her days working as the editor for CNNGo Singapore and Time Out Singapore, and written for the likes of ELLE, Wallpaper*, Travel + Leisure and The Australian. 

Read more about Charlene Fang