What else is there besides customer service and restaurant jobs?

I've worked my whole adult life in a job that mostly revolves around customer service, and I want something different. This job basically just stays the same, and never changes one way or the other no matter what I do, unless I were really really awful at my job then I'd be fired. I'm in school for management, for the day when I land a programming job I'll eventually be able to be a lead programmer, but for now, I'd like something different that is a little bit more steady employment (4-5 days a week would suit me just fine). I've been in this job for 16 years and have occasionally tried but without success to find something that would be different, mostly because I don't know what to do. My other love besides programming is writing music, though I doubt the kind of music I write would land me a steady paying gig. So what can I do that is neither customer service, or some sort of restaurant job that would be at least somewhat interesting and didn't require a degree? I really don't know whats out there, or how to look and find something.

Maybe a factory job? Cleaning homes? Or housekeeping at a hotel? Stockroom at a retail store? Newspaper delivery in the mornings? Kennel assistant at a dog shelter?

DUDE! Try technical support! It seems like it would be a great fit for you since you are into programming. It will be hard but it will also be interesting. I did technical support/customer service for several years before getting into more of a sys admin type role. It will probably pay a little better than customer service too.

How about temping. I once worked for a temp agency for a year and I loved it. I would get 8 week (or so) gigs. I could refuse if I didn't like it and there would be no adverse consequences. At the time I was in school so I don't think you need a degree. Just typing skills / receptionist skills or basic book keeping / data entry.

I enjoyed getting to meet new people and they were always grateful for me to be there so they didn't have to do the work.

What about entry-level data entry/database work?

Why aren't you pursuing programming? That is a lucrative career. Am I missing something?

What about a job in care.... it can be very rewarding. I have worked in care for 16 years and I work with both children and young people and adults too. I have also worked with children and young people who have disabilities and adults who also have disabilities which was SO rewarding. What about Youth Work? Don't know what qualifications you would need though.

I gotta agree with the temp agency. I worked for one for two years, and I picked up quite a variety of skills and experiences that I was able to land a cushy office job in a field I knew nothing about despite them preferring people with experience in that field.

My second temp job, the woman supervising me said that she also had used temp agencies when her husband was in the military and they were moving around a lot.

Check out the steel industry. It's a great industry to be in. It's hands on and lots of things to learn.