/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

>Cons are either super expensive guest fest or frat boy parties
>Japanese guests rarely seen
>More dub/cosplay nonbodies booked at "guests of honor" at high profile events
>Bad management plagues 90% of cons that enforce policies that either cripple the information flow or just dick attendees and staff

What the hell is happening to CA cons?

I've been going to large and smaller cons around CA for a while and I couldn't help but notice some panels becoming staples of the con programming. I want to start attending panels but I'm afraid of sitting through something cringeworthy and painful.

For those who go to panels at CA conventions, do you folks have any recommendations?

This year will be my first year not attending ax in the last decade due to vacation conflicts. Does anyone have any summer conventions recommendations in preferably socal after mid July. With so many conventions popping up and dying out in the area, I'm not sure which ones are worth my money.
Additionally seagulls, what usually makes or breaks a convention for you?