Do I need a shock mount?

Absolutely. Shock mounts absorb bumps and handling noise that would be picked up in a microphone if a shock mount isn’t used. Even on a stand, a shock mount is recommended because vibrations can travel from a truck outside, into the walls of the building, through the floor, up a C-Stand (or microphone stand), and then into a pole. A shock mount is essential for production work as the boom operator cues the microphone to different actors. As a rule, always use a shock mount.