49 yrs old,work exp,mainly acting,some cab driving,what comp,progrms/skills should I beef up to get temp work?

My typing is ok,comp skills so-so just bought office word 2003,aplied to temp agency on a lark 3 weeks ago got quick responce they gave me some testing placed me right away,seasonal job ending soon,cust serv rep,mainly phone/computer orders returns etc.In Seattle ,family stuff,till March or so,back to L.A. want to segueway this into something I can do to pay rent when acting gigs are scarce.Quick study,pretty sure I can get the skills I need just not sure where to focus.Working on typing and office word as a foundation.
First time I have EVER worked in an office.An adjustment..............
Dream scenario of this is get to the point where I can work out of home make own schedule,not miss auditions etc etc .
Would be gratefull for any informed responces! Thnx. Mike G.

The tired answer is to learn web programming skills, but those guys are generally a dime a dozen.

Look into learning C# for windows. There is a free version I believe that you can download for learning. Learn how to do stuff with a database. Again, I think there's a free version of SQL Server, or you can always use the free MySQL database. Spend a lot of time really getting to undertand object oriented programming techniques (do this by making up some projects - games, DVD collection software, etc). Once you have a good feel for it, farm yourself out dirt cheap - up to $20/hour - you may be able to find work as an "intern" for around $10 - $15/hour. If you can live on that for around a year you're home free. After a year of living like crap you should be good for a $50k/year job or less doing stuff you can work on at home. After another year of that you should be able to do just about whatever you want.

You don't HAVE to do C#, but right now it's the easiest skill to get into places. Java shops are going to be snootier and more difficult to get into for someone with no experience. Lots more places are willing to give you a shot if you're willing to work for next to nothing (in programmer terms) and you know c#.

It's not easy, but it's not too hard either to get into programming and make a decent living. If you have analytical skills and you enjoy solving problems, and, most importantly you aren't afraid to take risks, you can do it, no problem.

Since you are new to this I would avoid a programming approach, like C++ and stick to a useful application that is easier to learn than it looks and which there is always a call for in L.A. Especially if you can afford a little training.

The things that stand out to me are any kind of video graphics software - I would stick with the Mac platform here since that is largely in use in the video industry. Also in demand are skills in photoshop for photo layouts things like that.

Another very lucrative area is in mapping. Anyone can get access to a map now due to google, but only a few have the software or know how to manipulate data with a Mapping software package.

ESRI is the big player here and ArcView used to be the big package but it has been supplanted by a newer bigger package, check their website.

A weeks training by them would do you a lot of good at getting work. Huge demand. The only problem may be how much is really temp work.

However the money is really, really good.

Otherwise, the whole office suite is worth knowing, in order Word, Power Point, the Excel (its harder to learn than Excel) then Access (which requires at least one or more classes).

Those are my thoughts anyway.