Gah! I have had to withdraw from a conference today - one in which I had organised a panel with a friend. I feel awful and really sad especially since my co-organiser is a friend.

I'm really embarassed and miserable that I had to do it. But wacking another 300 pounds onto my credit card would have put me into further penury and despair!

It's really weighed on my mind, and I am actually pretty annoyed that the conference organiser would not allow me to register for the concessions rate, even when I sent an email outlining in neutral and professional language my financial situation as a almost-done PhD with no job and no funding. Without even transport and living costs the fee alone is over £100.

Still I must try and concentrate on the thesis.

I am still worried about my reputation in the field (people will know I have withdrawn) but also more about the friendship being tarnished by withdrawing :( Gah!

Argh!

Has anyone needed to withdraw from a conference before when they have had a small stake in organising one aspect of it?

Sorry you had to withdraw from the conference, Chrisrolinski. It's not your fault though (so try not to feel guilty), and if he's a good mate he'll understand. The fact is you just didn't have the money, plain and simple, and you would have if they'd have given you a concessionary rate so there was nothing you could do about it.
I've had no experience of having to withdraw from a conference, but I've had to let a lecturer down over some lectures I promised I'd do for her because I was just too busy. I felt very crap about that because I'd gone back on my word.

It's not on the same scale of course, but I once had to withdraw from a postgraduate conference I was involved in organising. I had an unavoidable hospital appointment come up on the same day. Luckily I wasn't out of pocket at all - as a local PG event (albeit involving 2 unis) there wasn't a registration fee we had to stump up for, and our accommodation (at a venue away) was paid for by the university. But it was still a big shame to let the other attendees down like that.

But don't worry unduly. You withdrew for good reasons. Focus on your PhD and what happens after that. I'm sure this won't have a negative impact on things for you, and your friend should understand.

These are the kind of things I agonise over for months, maybe years. I get all guilty and twisted up inside. However, I think that's just neuroticism for you, I think you are probably over estimating the degree to which other people are interested. They probably just shrug and say 'oh well' and forget all about it, but in your mind you imagine them holding a full on conference just to talk about how you aren't going. Don't overthink it, they are probably far more concerned with themselves.

Make it up to your friend at a later date.