I'm chronically underemployed. I've tried a few times to parlay my knowledge and experience in toiletries-making (which I never set out to make a career of) into jobs, but came up dry. And the trouble is, you practically never find out why someone didn't hire you, so it's hard to come up with advice for someone else to surmount my problems, but I can pass along things other people have told me.
One general problem is that people in any field don't like to hire the recently or currently self-employed. If you can get a friend to say they were the owner of the business that was actually yours, then strange as it seems, that will stand you better for hiring than if you'd been the entrepreneur. Alternatively you can concoct a story that you had taken over the business from someone else, preferably someone who'd formerly employed you, out of necessity (such as the owner's passing or having to move away), and that you really preferred to work for someone else.
In some cases it may even be better to play dumb and say you're just interested in or curious about a certain field rather than that you have technical knowledge in it.
What makes you say "not ideal" about using your massage license? Are the people who would employ a masseur not likely to give you the environment you're interested in?
As far as working the front desk at a spa or beauty shop, do you look good? Seems that'd be one of the chief things someone would look for in hiring for such a place.
Here's an idea that unfortunately is unlikely to produce steady money but could be a significant source of income: Teach. I mean adult education classes, seminars, and workshops in the field you know. You're not likely to be hired as a teacher, but you may arrange your own gigs thru various clearinghouses with little or no investment. You can even teach online. The Indy Business [formerly Beauty] Network (Dona Maria) comes to mind as such a resource, but you could also investigate more general adult education networks locally and in e-space.
Good luck.
