For the last 20 years Derek Gorsuch has worked in the entertainment industry as a professional prop maker and special effects artist. He fell in love with sculpting when he was brought on to help make skulls for a drum riser for the Misfits and, since then, has worked creating haunted houses for major theme parks including Busch Gardens and SeaWorld, has created props for bands and B movies, and has traveled the world as the Props Master for one of FELD Entertainment’s Disney on Ice shows.

An unfortunate accident overseas brought him to New Orleans where he fell in love with the city and its people. After reconnecting with a stage manager friend Derek went back on the road, met his wife, had a child, and settled down.

When his son was 2 Derek returned to New Orleans with his family.  After working various jobs including at a local prop house and in an art gallery, 2020 and COVID happened, and Derek found himself without a job and with a second child on the way.

That’s when the Krewe of House Floats happened; the people of New Orleans's answer to a parade-less Mardi Gras. New Orleans residents and organizations across the city converted their stoops, porches and balconies into stationary "floats," allowing the city to celebrate the season in their own, socially-distanced way.  Derek created the official throw for the Krewe which became so popular orders far exceeded anything Derek had imagined and he had to not only quickly figure out how to meet the demand, but learn how to start a legitimate business.

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That's how Throw Casters came to be; a business created in response to the irrepressible spirit of the people of New Orleans.