Code Red by Mike Kempner

Code Red has various interpretations outside of mentalism, notably as a hospital alert system for emergencies. These codes are designed to communicate critical information clearly, minimizing the risk of errors. In medical settings, they are often displayed on signs or employee ID badges for quick reference. While Code Red is a well-established protocol in healthcare, I introduced it to the realm of mentalism in 2014, defining it as a unique method of covert communication that challenges conventional logic.

EFFECT: In the first demonstration, you access your email account and send a message to a genuine spectator. She confirms receipt of your email and silently reads its contents (this is the CODE RED). Next, a second spectator freely chooses a word without any influence or coercion—this can be any word at all. In the second demonstration, you do not send this secret word via email or text, and this can be verified by technology experts. There are no signals or verbal cues involved; you simply perform an action on your mobile device while the room remains silent. Miraculously, the main spectator will discern the secret word using their own device and reveal it to the audience.

1st edition 2015, 2 pages. Word count: 1049, equivalent to 4 standard pages of text.