Companies are downsizing, startups are getting scrapped, and travel budgets are getting eviscerated.  But the crowds at Digital Hollywood in Santa Monica have been surprisingly healthy, and so have the sponsors. 

Booming?  Of course not, but attendance levels seem reasonable and respectable.  Ted Cohen was chatting up his usual crowd on Wednesday.  And a substantial percentage of booths were sold.

Though far different events, Digital Hollywood lacks the vacant pall that characterized Midem in January.  Perhaps the reason is that Digital Hollywood coordinator Victor Harwood has mostly dialed away from music - just a handful of panels over a multi-day period have been dedicated to music industry topics.  Then again, Musexpo in Hollywood last week produced a meaningful crowd, suggesting the beginnings of a rebound.

But look closer, and signs of desperation remain.  The name tags at Digital Hollywood show the distress - some have company names scratched out, others merely list the person as 'former' or the head of a one-man consultancy.  Many attendees are poking around for gigs.  "The event itself is healthy, though about a third of the attendees are looking for work," said Dave Ulmer, Senior Director of Entertainment Products at Motorola.  Another major chunk were speaking on panels - and getting a free pass in the process.

Unlike the frothy years of yore, this group has been more focused.  Those that can justify the expense are a bit more down-to-business, and with good reason.  "The people that actually wind up here are more objective-oriented, so the quality is good," said David Liebowitz, managing partner at CH Potomac.