Wow, some of your gigs must be in VERY big halls! seriously tho' I haven't tried a tie-clip I suspect you might get tangled in the lead, but I sometimes use a small stand mike for large ceilidhs. this is a small cardioid that I place as near as possible to the back of the bodhran in the bottom quadrant furthest from me (If that makes any sense.) you have to sit fairly still though. I guess whatever works for you is good