That's not how it works in the real world though.

Step 1: You want to test or observe something

Step 2: You apply for time with the appropriate equipment (public) or begin working for the R&D department of an appropriate company (private e.g Intel)

Step 3: You conduct your experiment, carrying out your tests and observing the results

Step 4: You publish your results

You are the expert of your experiment. It is up to you to present your methodology, hypothesis, findings and conclusions (more than that too but...). The conclusion is usually where you will find the new hypothesis, what does the data show? why? i.e does it agree or disagree with current theory?

'Theorists', as you put it, are usually those working on highly complex calculations that are far above the scope of current experimental equipment. However they are not the only ones permitted to proposing new theories. It's not as if a group of scientists are going to spend 3 years on a project then hand off their findings to 'theorists' when their results do not agree with expected or current standing theories.