Best way to arrange a first meet without it feeling awkward

Genuine question, always feel a bit weird on the first message. What do you all actually say?

just be normal about it, ask whereabouts they are and go from there

i always just say hi and ask if they're free that day, keeps it simple

agree with the above, overthinking it makes it weirder than it needs to be

yeah honestly the first message is the easy bit, it's turning up on time that matters more